Strategy Design
Halal
Housing Lab
The future of housing is not just more units, it is better fit, and this project shows how culturally appropriate, values-aligned housing can expand access and advance the common good.
Culturally grounded housing models, pairing design and financing to help more people feel at home.
Larger, multigenerational Muslim families face converging challenges: the need for larger affordable unit types, designs that reflect culture and daily life, and Shariah-compliant financing options. At the same time, the uncertainty and complexity of development make it extraordinarily difficult to deliver culturally appropriate housing.
Profile
Client: IslamicFamily (AB)
Partners: Another Way, SAS Architecture, ASK for a Better World
Practice Areas: Strategy Design, Community Dialogue
Impact Domains: Affordable housing; Equity, diversity & inclusion; Urbanism
Awards:
2024 Alberta Professional Planners Institute Award - Special Study
2025 Canadian Institute of Planners Award for Planning Excellence
The Work
Designed and led an intensive Solutions Lab to map the housing system and clarify real constraints
Convened an interdisciplinary team to co-create and test practical options for values-aligned design and financing
Synthesized diverse inputs into a coherent, action-ready direction
Shared learnings through an open-source guide to support replication in other communities
