The program developed by the Empresa Municipal de la Vivienda y Suelo in Madrid is part of the transformation process experienced by the city in the last years. No less than 59.000 new dwellings will be realized by the government between 2003 and 2011, 32.500 of which are VPO (Vivienda de Protecion Official). The goal is represented by a wide program of urban regeneration supported by the government, together with a new ground policy and the sustainable requalification of the existing heritage in the consolidated urban areas through tax incentives. The first target is to assure an easier access to quality dwellings for people with low income, offering prices 30% lower than the market ones. This scheme is based on national and international competitions, and on the participation to European programs I+D+I for the definition of innovative materials and new housing typology responding to the user’s needs. As a result, Madrid gained a range of public housing for rent and sale, which not only is an example of architectural quality, but also contributes to the balance of the territory and to the growth and transformation of the urban landscape. According to the effective urban regeneration and to the importance of the contribution of social housing to the quality of life of its citizens, Madrid was chosen to participate to the Shanghai Expo 2010 ‘Better City, Better Life’. Copyright©2011 IAHS.
