The Decree of the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country on the Habitability and Design Standards for Housing and Dwellings is the first construction regulation in Spain to include a gender perspective as a cross-cutting issue. The inclusion of the gender perspective in this regulation was seen from the outset as an opportunity to innovate in public housing policy. The gender perspective introduces a new approach to the definition of habitability, which is understood as the condition of a dwelling that allows the people who occupy it to develop a life project.
Among the requirements defining habitability, flexibility and versatility are added to the usual ones (spatial dimensions, thermal comfort, healthiness, etc.), with the aim of providing dwellings with the capacity to adapt to the different stages of the life of households, as well as to the new needs and lifestyles of our current society. The flexibility and versatility of dwellings are defining characteristics of their habitability. These characteristics allow for the introduction of specific innovative requirements into the text of the standard. These requirements facilitate the creation of spaces capable of responding to the changing circumstances of each household. However, gender also extends and updates other existing habitability variables, such as safety, spatial relationships between different rooms, some spatial characteristics, or maintenance itself, among others. This policy applies to new housing developments as well as to existing housing undergoing rehabilitation, whether the project is publicly or privately funded. By mainstreaming gender in the regulation, the following aspects will be innovated:
- The capacity of housing to adapt to shifting household needs, whether stemming from the life cycle, unforeseen circumstances, the diversification of family structures, or the rise in teleworking.
- To enhance the safety of the residential environment, particularly in shared spaces.
- To enhance the quality of life and autonomy of individuals, while fostering a sense of responsibility and facilitating communication, with a focus on activities related to care and daily living.
The decree is designed to serve as a practical instrument for the development of quality housing, ensuring a dignified living environment for all individuals. To facilitate implementation, the contributions of the gender perspective in the Decree are embedded in a transversal manner in the sections that traditionally make up the structure of this type of technical regulation, some explicitly and others transversally. This reinforces and expands aspects such as accessibility.
Additionally, issues related to accessibility are emphasized, as minimum conditions are required in all dwellings. Therefore, at least one bedroom, the living room, and a complete bathroom are required to comply with the accessibility and practicability requirements of Decree 68/2000.