Abstract
Since public rental housings (social housings) in Korea are extremely standardized and uniformed, a variety of needs of residents for their housing are hardly satisfied. Public rental housing conditions, its low quality and size limitations regardless of residents type and needs resulted into negative images of social housing and social discriminations. Therefore there is a growing demand for alternative housing options in terms of diversification of social housing design with consideration for changing households and housing requirements. The purpose of this study to investigate some housing design guidelines, to analyze layout of building complex, community designs, household units and characteristics, overall design characteristics (sustainable design features, facade design, window and balcony composition, color and materials) and to provide some design suggestions for social housing. Design guidelines are classified into site planning and building layouts, residential building and household units, and performance of housing. Community facilities and their design features provide uniqueness of the public residence. Overall housing size of foreign cases is bigger than the domestic cases. Narrow shape of household units are more dominant in Korean public rental housing. More various shape and forms are found in facade and window design in foreign cases. Some design suggestion are provided for more diverse housing units and design for public rental housing in Korea.