ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We would like to express our gratitude to our subject teacher Ar. Pradeep Adhikari for giving us this “Housing”
project and also for their ongoing advice and knowledge. We had to collect as much information as possible.
However, the challenge was worth seeing how much knowledge we have gained. We thank everyone who has
contributed to gathering the necessary information and helping us. The report is the combined efforts of all the
group members without whom it would not have been possible to accomplish the study. All the constant effort is
appreciated in providing any sort of help at any moment and standing by side in every problem encountered by
the group members. No doubt, by this project, we have got much knowledge as well as we got to learn about the
different aspects of respective subject matter. We would also like to express our humbleness towards our family
and friends who have directly and indirectly helped us in this project. Also, the information collected from
different websites and reference books were very useful and informative in compiling the report and generating
ideas.
Sincerely,
Aliza Joshi (503)
Anuka Shrestha (506)
Anusha Shakya (507)
Ashru Sigdel (508)
Injila Shrestha (516)
Prasannata Acharya (524)
CONTENTS

1. COMMERCIAL HOUSING
1.1. Interlace,Singapore
1.1.1 Introduction……………………………………………………………………....……………..........…...1
1.1.2 Layout.........................................................................................................................................................2
1.1.3 Facilities ……………………………………………………………………..…………….................….4
1.1.4 Services………………………………………………….............................................................................4
1.1.5 Sustainable elments…………………………………………………………….....…………................….5
1.1.6 Energy Efficient…………………………………………………………………...……...……..................5
1.1.7 Landscape ……………………………………………………………………...........................................6
1.1.8 Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………....……....…..........….6

1.2 Newhall Be, United Kingdom…………………………………………………....……………...........…...7

1.2.1 Neighbourhood plan………………………………………………………………....…….....……...........7
1.2.2 Master plan …………………………………………………………………………...….................…….7
1.2.3 Materials…………………………………………………………………………......................................11
1.2.4 Housing typology……………………………………................................................................................12
1.2.5 Housing layout, Streets and Open spaces………………..………………..……………...........................12
1.2.6 Cost…………………………………………………................................................................................13
1.2.7 Conclusion……………………………………………………..................................................................13

2. COOPERATIVE HOUSING
2.1. Zakir Hussain’s Cooperative housing……………………………......………………..…...........………..14
2.1.1 Introduction……………………………………………………………......…………....…............……..14
2.1.2 Circulation And Open Spaces………………………………………………….......…...…..............…….15
2.1.3 Housing Topologies………………............................................................................................................16
2.1.4 Orientation And Climate………………………………………........…………….....................................17
2.1.5 Landscape Treatment And Design……………………………………………………....…...........….......18
2.1.6 Construction Materials And Technology……………………………………………….……...................18
2.1.7 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………....................…..18

3. SOCIALHOUSING:………………………………………………………………….….........................20
3.1 Kirtipur Housing by Lumanti (National Case Study)………................................…….....…...................20
3.1.1 Introduction……………………………………………………………………………...…...........……..20
3.1.2. Location……………………………………………………………………………..................................20
3.1.3 Topography……………………………………………………………………….....................................20
3.1.4 Neighborhood planning…………………………………………………………………...............……...20
3.1.5 Planning.....................................................................................................................................................22
3.1.6 Housing Typologies....................................................................................................................................22
3.1.7 Orientation and passive design...................................................................................................................23
3.1.8 Open spaces...............................................................................................................................................24
3.1.9 Building Technologies and Materials.........................................................................................................24
3.1.10 Infrastructures............................................................................................................................................25
3.1.11 Economic Opportunity................................................................................................................................26
3.1.12 Financial Matters........................................................................................................................................26
3.1.13 Affordability...............................................................................................................................................27
3.1.14 Analysis on Affordability............................................................................................................................27
3.1.15 Conclusion and Analysis.............................................................................................................................27

3.2. Elemental Housing Monterrey, Mexico...........................................................................................................28

3.2.1 Project Detail................................................................................................................................................28
3.2.2 Problem.........................................................................................................................................................28
3.2.3 Intiation.........................................................................................................................................................29
3.2.5 Mass Concept............................................................................................................................................29
3.2.6 Site Planning..............................................................................................................................................30
3.2.7 Planning.....................................................................................................................................................32
3.2.8 Facade........................................................................................................................................................33
3.2.9 Motive........................................................................................................................................................33
3.2.10 Open Spaces..............................................................................................................................................33
3.2.11 Services......................................................................................................................................................34
3.2.12 Affordability...............................................................................................................................................35
3.2.13 Conclusion.................................................................................................................................................36

4. SLUMS AND SQUATTER HOUSING

4.1. Khayelitsha in Cape Town (South Africa)………................................……........................….................37
4.1.1 Introduction...............................................................................................................................................37
4.1.2 Empower Shack..........................................................................................................................................37
4.1.3 Project Phase……………………………………………………………………………………..............37
4.1.4 Material used…………………………………………………………………………….........................38
4.1.5 Problem………………………………………………………………………..........................................38
4.1.6 Solutions………………………………………………………………………........................................38
4.1.7 Building Details.........................................................................................................................................39
4.1.8 Self determined openings...........................................................................................................................40
4.1.9 Cost and Economy......................................................................................................................................41
4.1.10 Weather in Khayelistha...............................................................................................................................41
4.1.11 Analytical Review.......................................................................................................................................41
Conclusion.............................................................................................................................................................42
References..............................................................................................................................................................43
1. Commercial Housing: a comfortable tropical outdoor environment all-year
1.1 Interlace, Singapore round. Furthermore this would enable continual
usage of the courtyards for communal functions for
1.1.1 Introduction community building. (The interlace, n.d)

Site Specifications:

The Interlace is one of the largest and most ambitious

residential developments in Singapore. It presents a Location: It is located on an elevated eight-hectare
radically new approach to contemporary living in a lush (80000 sq.m), 99-year leasehold site bounded by
tropical environment. It was designed by Ole Scheeren, Alexandra Road and Ayer Rajah Expressway. The site
partner of the Office for Metropolitan Architecture completes a nine-kilometer long greenbelt that stretches
(OMA). The project was completed in 2013. The between the Kent Ridge, Telok Blangah Hill and Mount
name, interlace reinforces the interconnectivity of the Faber parks.
community with the surrounding natural environment.
It has been awarded universal design mark platinum • Total Floor Area -170,000 Sq.m
award and green mark gold plus award. • Ground Coverage: 1 hectare (2.47105)
• FAR: 2.125
Concept: • 31 Apartment Blocks, each six storey’s tall with 8
main courtyards.
• Basement Parking- 2,600
• Apartments- 1,040 (144,000 Sq.m) (Sizes vary 755
Sq.m - 600Sq.m)
• Clubhouse: 1,500 Sq.m
Respond to Urban Context:

Vertical Village
Instead of creating a cluster of isolated, vertical towers,
the standard typology of residential developments
in Singapore, the design turns vertical isolation into
horizontal connectivity, generating an extensive
network of private and shared social spaces in a radical
reinterpretation of contemporary life in a community.
(The interlace, n.d)

A. Accesibility:
Convenience by various mode of transportation; car,
Morning Afternoon Evening MRT and by foot.
B. Learning:
The interlace took into consideration the amount of Repuatable International and Local Educational
daylight that one would receive living in the apartment. Institutions close-by.
With the unique massing of the project, sufficient level C. Bussiness:
of self-shading is provided in the courtyards to maintain
1
Commercial Buildings:
• Psa Building
• Hp building
• Alexander Techno Park
R&D Zones:
• One-North
• Mediapolis- future global media hub
• Science Park I

D. Green Belt: Only site next to recreational playground

amidst nature.

Climate:

The 31 six-story blocks are arranged on four main

‘Superlevels’ comprising 24 stories, although most
Superlevel blocks range from 6 to 18 stories to form
a stepped building topography. By alternating the
Superlevel blocks as they are stacked, multi-story
openings through the massing allow light and air to
weave into the architecture and landscape. Extensive
cascading terraces and balconies continue the
landscaping features up to the green roofs and shared
public terraces between blocks. (The Showcase: The
interlace by OMA, 2019)

Floor plans of diffrent types of building units:

• Singapore is situated near the equator and has

typically tropical climate, with abundant rainfall,
high uniform temperature and high humidity all
year round.
• The temperature hovers around a diurnal range
of minimum of 25 degree Celsius and maximum
of 33 degree Celsius.
• Many of its climate variables, such as temperature
and relative humidity, do not show large month-
to-month variation.

1.1.2 Layout:
Planning:
Thirty-one apartment blocks, each six stories tall, are
stacked in a hexagonal arrangement to form eight
large-scale open and permeable courtyards. While
maintaining the privacy of the individual apartment
units through generous spacing of the building blocks
and unobstructed far-ranging views, the horizontal and
interconnected volumes create an interactive network
of outdoor spaces within the green terrain.

2
Circulation: is within proximity to the clubhouse and all the
recreationalfacilities.
5. Theatre Plaza: An outdoor extension of the the
atre at the clubhouse, the Theatre Plaza is the per-
fect communal space for hosting performances, ex-
hibitions or open air screenings.
6. Bamboo Garden: For moments of quiet solitude,
residents may settle in with a book at the reading
nooks within the bamboo forest.
7. Spa Valley: Reminiscent of a rainforest, the Spa
Valley invites relaxation at its spa pool lagoon, Ja-
cuzzi, waterfall grotto, massage pools and steam
Fig: Horizontal Circulation room for a complete hydrotherapy experience.
8. Lotus Pond: This 40m-wide pond exudes a sense of
• The horizontal circulation takes place through calm and comfort, with its gentle lapping banks and
courtyards and pedestrian circulation transit. floating blossoms, as inspired by Asian gardens.
• The vertical circulation varies according to the
spatial design of the building. Master Plan:
• It has three vertical circulation core changing in size
and specific requirements of the building.

Community Courtyards:

The landscape master plan is generated from a series

of environmental sun, wind and micro-climate studies,
which respond to the existing site conditions and
Fig: courtyards spaces in the housing arrangement of the blocks. Eight courtyards with
individual landscaped identities are defined within the
Designed around 8 uniquely themed courtyards, each heart of the project and form focal points and orienting
one of them have their distinct identities-enabling each devices for the surrounding blocks. Clubhouse amenities
community village to adapt and give personality to are situated within landscaped areas, integrating
their neighborhood. (Buro Ole Scheeren, 2011) communal activities with the outdoors, and extending
the boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces.
1. Water Park: the water park consist of 50m lap pool,
family pool, children’s play pool and sun lounging The primary route through the project leads residents
decks for residents. from the main entrance to the major courtyards where
2. Waterfall Terrace: Tennis court, multi-purpose area communal events take place. Pedestrian circulation
swimming pool and party pavilions are available at responds to the location and density of residents
the waterfall terrace. around each courtyard and residential core. A system of
3. Play Hills: Nestled in sculpted groundswell this is secondary footpaths brings residents on the most direct
an outdoor exercise corner and a play station for chil route from the building entrances to and from their
dren, serving as a recreational area conducive to homes. A continuous loop around the site provides a
young and old alike. one-kilometer running track and connects the ‘internal’
4. Central Square: This centrally located courtyard courtyards to the activities around the edge of the site.
serves as a favorite meeting spot for residents as it (Showcase: The interlace by OMA, 2019)

3
Open Space for public: Elevated roof terraces and sky gardens extend outdoor
space on multiple levels with view above the tree line
to the surrounding, parks, sea, and city. The diversity
of the various offerings and atmospheres of natural
environment encourages social interaction with the
freedom of choice for different gradients pf privacy and
sharing contributing to the overall sense of community.
(Damian Holmes, 2016)

1.1.3.Facilities:

Gardens are located over the rooftops while staircase

are positioned at the overlaps between blocks. Other
communal features include a lotus pond, a waterfall,
an open-air theatre and a rock garden.
The interlace generates a space of collective experience
within the city and reunites the desire for individual
privacy with a sense of togetherness and living in a
community. Social interaction is integrated with the
natural environment in a synthesis of tropical nature
and habitable urban space.
The notion of community life within a contemporary Fig: Different recreational spaces
village is emphasized throughout the project by an
extensive network of communal gardens and spaces. a) Tennis Courts
A variety of public amenities are interwoven into the b) Multi-purpose court
landscape, offering numerous opportunities for social c) Play Zone
interaction and shared activities integrated with the d) Outdoor Exercise Station
natural environment. e) Gardening Zone
f) Clubhouse on 1st storey
g) Lotus Pond
h) BBQ Promenade
i) Pet Zone
j) Jogging Track
k) Party Pavilion
l) Landscape Courtyards
m) Sky Terraces

1.1.4 Services:

Parking:
Fig: Courtyard space

Courtyards with multiple recreational activities offer

a wide selection of communal activities for residents.
A continuous loop around the site provides a 1km
running track and connects the ‘internal’ courtyards to
the activities around the edge of the site. The character
of a vertical village embedded in a rich landscape of
activities and nature is evident throughout the project. Fig: Basement Parking

4
• Above-ground vehicular circulation is minimized, alongside allows the residents and visitors to
liberating large green areas, all traffic and parking get closer and enjoy the natural drainage feature
is accommodated in a single layer below the integrated with greenery. (Active beautiful clean
landscaped ground level. waters, 2014)
• Basement parking- 2,600 cars.
3. Bio-retention Basin: Situated at the lowest point
• Open air voids in the plinth allow light and air to
of the development site near to facilities, this bio-
the semi sunken and naturally ventilated parking
retention basin or rain garden allows detention and
deck.
treatment of storm water runoff before entering into
the public drain. (Active beautiful clean waters,
2014)
4. Vegetable Greenery: Green walls were erected
at various locations with large vertical faces to
remove airborne pollutants as well as to slow down
storm water runoff. These green walls reduce the
need for air conditioning by minimizing solar gain
and reflected solar energy. (Active beautiful clean
waters, 2014)

Fig: Open air voids in the plinth

Site Access:
The primary pedestrian route through the project
leads residents from the main entrance through and
to the courtyards as primary points of orientation and
identification-you live in a courtyard, a space, a rather
than a building or an object. Pedestrian circulation
is grouped and bundled according to the density of
residents around each courtyard in a central ‘connector’.
A system of secondary footpaths brings residents from
the connector to the private front doors of their homes.
Fig: sustainable elements in the building
Lifts:
1.1.6 Energy Efficient:

Fig: Lifts and Staircase

1.1.5 Sustainable elements: The design generates a multiplication of horizontal

surfaces populated by extensive roof gardens and
1. Extensive Green Roof: 9 extensive and easily landscaped terraces that in aggregate provide 112%
accessible roof gardens and intermediate sky green area- more than the size of unbuilt site.
terraces were created on every horizontal block.
2. Vegetable Swale: The 60m long vegetated swale
helps to slow down runoff and remove litter and
sediments from the water. The elevated walkway
5
1.1.7 Landscape: it, allowing nature to expand sustainably within and
throughout the project. (Showcase: The interlace by
OMA, 2019)

1.1.8 Conclusion:

• Though the design generates diff horizontal

arrangements of blocks instead of a skyscraper but
it is only possible when the site is large enough.
• No intersection of pedestrian movement by
vehicular movement.
• More incorporation of social spaces.
• More of green area than the built up area, thus
making it a part of the ecology.
Fig: Overall landscape of the housing • All types of units are mixed.
• The spatial arrangements of the different blocks
The landscape design capitalizes on the generous size of provide different states of sun and shadow, with
the eight-hectare site and further maximizes the green large water bodies provided for influencing the
area and presence of nature. By stacking the apartment microclimate in the recreational spaces between
blocks, the design generates the opportunity for the towers, improving the overall quality of
extensive roof gardens, numerous landscaped public comfort and experience.
terraces that provide even more green areas than the
original site.
The landscape design establishes a link between the
existing surrounding parks and green spaces and
completes the green belt. Trees, plants and flowers
form a part of the residential program and provide a
lush tropical environment for the residents to enjoy and
provide settings for leisure activities. The continuity
of the landscape is also projected vertically, from
the planting of green areas in the open-air basement
voids, up to the balconies and rooftop gardens.Private
balconies are arranged to give apartments generous
outdoor space and private planting areas.

A succession of cascading gardens in the sky are

expressed on the building facades, as lush vegetation
spills over balconies, visually connecting the elevated
green refuges with the expansive tropical landscape
on the ground. The project is not only infiltrated by
the surrounding tropical flora, but also embedded in
6
1. 2 Newhall Be, United Kingdom
Newhall is the suburban housing that have tried to
WArchitects: Alison Brooks Architects solve the housing problem of the people living outside
Client: Linden Homes, Gulliford Try plc the major cities of United Kingdom.
Dwellings:84
Site Area:1.62 ha To develop a dense, super-efficient suburban masterplan
Density:52 d/ha with generous house typologies tailored to contemporary
lifestyles. Brook’s started the investigation on square
1.2.1 Neighbourhood Plan house plots with T-shaped and L-shaped plans and
Harlow New Town was one of Britain’s most successful - standard long, narrow plots. They came with the idea
a post-war reconstruction project conceived as clusters, that compact footprints meant three-storey houses and
neighborhood centres and green wedges, steered and rooms in the roof.
lived in by its architect-planner Frederick Gibberd. On
its outskirts, towards east away from the nearby Essex-
Hertfordshire border, there is Old Harlow; trees lining

Fig: Plan of Harlow city with the location of Newhall and its neighbourhood

fields on either side of the road revealing glimpses of 1.2.2 Master Planning:
the serrated skyline of a low-rise citadel, a patchwork Alison Brooks responded to the challenge of building
of residential developments master planned by Roger at high density by reformatting the typical long narrow
Evans Associates, and is also called as architectural zoo building plot with courtyard houses that sit ‘cheek by
of Britain. Newhall Be occupies its south-west corner jowl’ on squarish plot.
(South Chase lot-3, Harlow).
Master planner Roger Evans developed a blueprint ABA’s approach to the masterplan integrates a mix of
for a 6,000-strong neighbourhood − a scale in keeping new and familiar house typologies in a highly efficient
with Gibberd’s original copenhagem plans − to masterplan to maximize internal living space and
accommodate 2,800 homes within walking distance flexibility for individual homes. The development
of community facilities, shops and schools. They were consists of 84 units across four building types; 5
to be denser, more urban and infinitely better designed Apartment buildings(in road junction); 14 Villas(around
than the average urban sprawl. Horlow is New Towns the site); 29 Courtyard Houses(centrally located) and 7
built to ease the chronic overcrowding in London’s Terraced Houses(in northern corner) totaling 84 units,
East End. (Silkin, n.d.) 26% of which are affordable.
7
Fig: Birds eye view of Newhall Be

Fig: Master plan of Newhall Be

8
Courtyard houses:
The courtyard houses are a radical reconfiguration of
typical long and narrow 5m x 20m terraced house plot
to a 9.5mx10.5m plot. This square plot permits a very
wide house footprint, T-shaped with courtyard spaces or
‘outdoor rooms’ that interlock with kitchen/dining and
living rooms. A covered front porch creates a important
semi-public threshold between the house front door
and the street’s shared surfaces. Inside, a very generous
central hall creates a sense of spaciousness. A large 1st
floor roof terrace above the kitchen captures afternoon
sunlight. Master bedrooms have cathedral ceilings and
the 3 bed versions have a generous loft bedroom.

Fig: Ground Floor of courtyard housing

Fig:Terrace courtyard on 1st Floor of courtyard Fig: Ground floor courtyard seen from terrace
housing coutyard
9
Villas:
The villas are two-storey, L-shaped in plan to provide
a front parking court that maximizes south facing
orientation and views to the street/landscape beyond.
Covered front porches with balconies give the houses
an open and inviting street presence. Front ‘outriggers’
contain the study and bedroom above. Central entrance
halls lead to an open plan living, kitchen and family
room that opens to the garden. A front study can double
as guest bedroom.

Fig: Villa with car parking and open space for vegetation

Apartments:

Five apartment blocks form important urban markers at

street junctions, and act as gateways to the development.
Each block’s slightly angled geometries give the
facades a directionality that responds to orientation,
views, and integrates their larger massing with the
highly articulated masses and angled roofs of the
adjacent houses. Upper floors clad in brick cantilever
over the main entrances to provide a sheltered porch to
communal entrances.

Fig: Ground Floor plan of Apartment with its Elevation

10
Terraced houses:
The seven terraced houses, of 90sqm and 115sqm, are
set back on their plots to provide south-facing front
gardens. Each end house is pulled forward to create an
enclosed ‘courtyard- like’ street. The terraces follow the
scheme’s principles of a central hall, open plan living/
dining and generous bedrooms, with a convertible loft
space and cathedral ceilings in 1st floor bedrooms.
Each house has 5.4 sqm of Photovoltaic roof tiling.
Every dwelling at newhall Lot 3 is provided with 6sm
private Balconies, large roof terraces, Juliette balconies,
courtyard Gardens, patio gardens or all of the above.

Fig: Affordable row housing with terrace and open spaces for vegetation

The East-west lanes are shared surfaces and conceived • All houses at Newhall Lot 3 are constructed using
as useable, communal outdoor spaces while the entire prefabricated timber cassettes above a beam and
development is surrounded by playing fields, ecology block ground floor. The use of the yellow brick is
walks and new ‘green wedges’ typical of Harlow’s also seen. Panelized, truss-free system permitted
original masterplan concept. ‘room in the roof’ construction so houses can
expand into the attic space. Complete watertight
The scheme’s geometric and material consistency houses were erected in two days. A simple palette
was inspired by the powerful roof forms and simple of materials that brought consistency and coherence
materials of Essex’s rural buildings. ABA has utilized to the schemes were:
these geometries to bring light into terraced courtyards, FSC-rated, pressure treated Siberian Larch;
allow rooms in the roof, permit oblique views to the Cembrit natural slates (roofs);
landscape beyond the site, and to introduce a sculptural Composite Windows and
rhythm to the scheme’s streetscapes. All housing types simple steel railings.
incorporate covered porches; central stair halls; roof Porcelain tiled ground floor.
terraces; Juliette balconies and cathedral ceilings.
Loft spaces are either finished or can be retrofitted by
homebuyers as additional bedrooms. 1.2.4 Housing Typology:
Contemporary terraced patio houses with external
1.2.3 Materials: appearances inspired by traditional black-

11
weatherboarded Essex barns whose gabled geometries and huge roof is both sculptural and still, giving what
Brooks describes as ‘a presence you just don’t get with ticky-tacky boxes plonked down in a row’.

1.2.5 Housing Layout,Street and Open Spaces:

Fig: Essex Barns gabled geometric roofing in housing

They have adopted grid or rectangular pattern for housing arrangement but building lines and pavements are not
parallel − allow for wider patches of road where clusters of on-street parking spaces can be absorbed. Further, the
L shaped and the T shaped housing provided the spaces for parking.

Plentiful street trees and pleasant views of the greenery surrounds the development on every side. The decision
to build at high density, reduces available garden space and makes it particularly important to deliver a high-
quality public realm. Newhall has made it viable by designing a whopping 40 per cent of potential building land
to established vegetation which makes the public realm conductive to walking and cycling.

1.2.6 Cost:

Fig: Open spaces, vegetations and strreets of the housing

12
• Costs at Newhall are some 10-15 per cent higher than the ‘ordinary’ housing at neighboring Church Langley,
but that the quality of the environment and the desirability of the real estate means that buyers are prepared
to pay 15-20 per cent above local values. Brooks’ housing is a case in point, with speedy sales and higher-
than-average prices (£164,995 for a one-bedroom apartment rising to £399,995 for a four-bedroom detached
house).
• The formula that works at Newhall, is proximity to the station (10 minutes by car) and to London (30 miles
down the road or just half an hour by train) which ensures a ready supply of middle-class professionals who
are both willing and able to indulge a taste for modern architecture by paying a little above the odds.
• Recognizing that lack of finance is the single biggest blockage to innovation in housing design, Brooks has
embarked on a mission to make valuations adhere to a list of quality criteria.

1.2.7 Conclusion:
With its density of 52 units per hectare and public realm thoroughfares, Newhall isn’t typical suburban housing. It
follows Newhall’s promoters and designers’ strategy of retaining the existing landscape by building on constrained
footprints at high densities and prioritizing pedestrian and cycle access. While emphasizing continuity with
Harlow New Town’s original vision, their aim is to surpass its density, arguably one of the compromises that
undermined the New Town’s success.
Everyone is reciting the usual tedious platitudes about traditional ‘yet’ contemporary design, and ‘respecting’ the
local vernacular but does Newhall Be, inspired by Essex farmhouses and featuring a stock brick which seems to
have been popular with the locals, have anything further to offer?
To that question architect brook says,”It includes a new, or certainly very unusual, typology: the terraced courtyard
house, with the same area as a conventional narrow, deep terrace unit but much more width, plus opportunities for
interesting interlocking spaces and views.

13
2.Cooperative Housing
2.1 Zakir Hussain’s Cooperative housing
2.1.1 Introduction

figure: Zakir Hussain’s Coperative Housing

(MONGOLIA,2012)
The Zakir Hussain Co-operative housing commissioned
on either ends of the site and interspersed clusters
the Architect Raj Rewal which is a scheme for 210 units
of four storey in between them Begun in 1979, but
for its member’s majority of whom are Muslims, in a
completed only in 1984, the housing offered an high
linear site in Sarai Jullena, New Delhi. The housing is
density, economical housing of same period. Some of
also known as Zakir Bagh. In keeping with the nature of
the concepts he explored through housing are:
the society, the decision concerning the overall layout
1. Urban fabric
of the project and the design of the individual unit
2. Clusters
types were taken democratically. Hence the designers
3. Streets
were faced with a sometimes arduous but enriching
4. Gateways
task of satisfying the needs and desires of all members.
5. Inner courtyards
The design has two eight-storied towers as sentinels

Site Planning

• Area: 17198.996 sq. m.

• Ground coverage: 5731.59 sq. m.
• Open area: 11467.406 sq. m
• Green area: 1020 sq. m.
• Parking area: 960 sq. m.
• Number of blocks: 24
• Number of units: 204
• Number of people: Approx... 1000
• Service available: water, sewage and electricity.
There are bore-wells present on site plus overhead
tanks. There are no generators but there is a
transformer.
• People and lifestyle: mostly a Muslim society
(HUSSAIN)

figure: Site visible in map

(GOOGLE EARTH)

14
Regional Connection And Services

1. To the east there is Sarai Jullena which is a highly

dense urban village.
2. To the west there is Ishwar Nagar which consists of
plotted housing.
3. On the north there is Maulana Muhammad Ali
Jauharn Marg which leads to NH-2.
4. Across the road lies the New Friend’s Colony
Community Centre.
5. To the south is Sukhdev Vihar.
6. Nearest bus stop are Sarai Jullena bus stop and the
Sukhdev Vihar bus stop denoted by white circle. fig: Services around the site (GOOGLE EARTH)
(earth)
7. To the east the nearest hospital is Holy Family 8. 8.The nearest schools are Cambridge Primary
Hospital within a distance of 500 meters denoted School at750 meters towards northeast and Kasturba
by red rectangle. (ADITYA,2016) Balika Vidhyalaya at 360 meters towards northwest
denoted by yellow rectangles.
Layout
(Form and spatial organization)
1. The overall layout of the project and placement of form poles at either end of the long site. Between
individual unit types are linearly aligned. Two 8 them are 4 storey clusters of apartment around open
storey towers were included as a means of providing areas for pedestrians and vehicles. These contain
large units of 130-160 sq. m. smaller apartments (50-100 sq.m) of which there
2. There are 8 types flats in the towers. The two towers are 16 variations to meet the specific desires.
(MONGOLIA,2012)

fig: Layout of the project (MONGOLIA,2012)

2.1.2Circulation And Open Spaces

fig: Circulation and open spaces (MONGOLIA,2012)

Vehicular And Pedestrians 1.2.2 Hierarchy of streets
1. Plot has 4 entrances on the western side boundary. Peripheral vehicular street:
Entries open up into paved courtyards used parking 1. 3 meters (towards western edge)
squares. Peripheral roads are also used as parking. 2. 6meters (towards Sarai Julena)
2. Rest of the movement takes place along one central Internal Pedestrian Street:
axis which goes through the plot parallel to the 1. 5 meters at entrance
larger side. The transition takes place into the 2. 2 meters along the central green squares
paved courtyards placed alternatively between the
building block clusters.

15
Segregation Of Pedestrian And Vehicular

1. Poles have been used as physical barrier to clearly

democrat the pedestrian and vehicular spaces.
2. Level difference of 750 mm is created between
pedestrian and parking squares.
(MONGOLIA,2012)

fig: Parking (MONGOLIA,2012)

Parking
1.960 sq. m of area is used for parking. The tower blocks
are raised on stills and entire ground floor is used for
parking. Due to demands of the more parking space,
setbacks are also been used for parking. Open to sky,
paved parking lots are also used as interaction space.

fig: Parking on ground floor

(SEIKH,2009)
Open Space System

fig: Open spaces (MONGOLIA,2012)

• Private: Each unit has balconies and open terraces • Public: Central green courts and parking lots acts as
into the central courtyards. Natural Surveillance is public open spaces along with the pedestrian streets.
maintained. However, most of the public open spaces remain
underused during the day.

2.1.3 Housing Topologies

1. Axes
2. Common spaces
3. Green spaces
4. Perimeter paths

fig: Housing topologies (MONGOLIA,2012)

16
Cluster level
• 4 units make 1 floor, 8 floors make each tower. Rest
of the blocks are 4 storey high.
• In these cluster there is central space with green
or paved courtyards. Roof terraces and balconies
overtook into these space as they are aligned along
the open spaces.

Unit level
Each floor has 4 units aligned radially to a central TYPE A TYPE C
area containing a common staircase. There are 4 main
types with many variations merged with each other and
placed symmetrically with respect to two orthogonal
principal axes. Each unit has the 10 same environments
enlisted with plans.
TYPE B TYPE D
fig: Housing topologies (MONGOLIA,2012)

SOUTH ELE SOUTH ELE EAST ELE NORTH ELE WEST ELE
TOWER PLAN
fig: Plan and elevation of tower
(MONGOLIA,2012)

2.1.4 Orientation And Climate

1. The housing blocks are oriented along SW-NE axis

and streets along SE-NW axis to correspond to S-E
monsoon winds.
2. The individual clusters link to form a series of
axially arranged courtyards, interconnected with
narrow passages so that it provides cool shadow
and air currents into the clusters and help in cooling
down the spaces. The layout plan follows traditional
methods of cooling and cross ventilation.
3. The pathways are kept along the building blocks, so
they remain partially shaded during summers.
4. The central open areas remains well shaded
during summers. However winter sun has been
compromised.
5. Deciduous plantation is done along the pathways
and central courts.
6. The interlocking courtyards provided breathing
space and act as air wells to store cool night air in
summers.
(MONGOLIA,2012)

fig: Relationship of sunlight and open spaces during a day

17
fig: Orientation and climate (MONGOLIA,2012)

2.1.5 Landscape Treatment And Design

fig: landscape

1. The area between the clusters has been marked as

open spaces to serve the community.
2. Open spaces are fragmented alternatively into
parking lots and green courtyards.
3. All courtyards have been treated same. No distinct
character has been provided to these open spaces.
4. Parking lots are hard paved and remains unshaded
and thus generates heat.
2.1.6 Construction Materials And Technology

• Plaster coating and finishing in the rough, white fig: landscape (MONGOLIA,2012)
coloration for the structural highlighting in front,
darker color for cladding. visibility. It should be made visible and physically
• Structure consists of reinforced concrete beam and accessible from the peripheries to activate the
pillars in prefabricated blocks. courtyards.
2.1.6 Conclusion 2. Pedestrian continuity
1. Fragmented open spaces • It is needed to enhance the shaded pedestrian
• The central green courtyards are underutilized continuity throughout the place like around the
due to fragmentation of open spaces, it is needed courtyards, around parking lots on peripheral roads,
to be utilized through a more enhanced pedestrian etc.
continuity. • Green buffers to be provided between pedestrian
• Distinct characters to be provided to each courtyards paths and buildings to create buffer from noise and
like playing areas, yoga areas, summer and winter visibility.
sitting areas, etc. which will give enhanced character • 3.Reorganized parking spaces
to the housing. • Parking around the entrances and circulation cores
• Courtyards are hedged up to 5”which blocks the needed to be reorganized. (MONGOLIA,2012)

18
• Parking lots to be provided with green buffers and shading to reduce heated surfaces in summers.
• Decreasing the hardscape softscape ratio from (76%-24%) to (70%-30%)

fig: Numbering the areas for conclusion and what could be done fig: Landscaping in parking area could
have been done this way
(MONGOLIA,2012)

19
3. Social Housing: 3.1.3 Topography
The housing is located at a slightly sloping site. The
3.1Kirtipur Housing by Lumanti co-ordinates for the site is as follows:
(National Case Study) 27°40’44.0” (27.678937°) North
85°16’16.9” (85.271332°) East
3.1.1 Introduction Elevation of the site is 1356.0 m (4448.8 feet)
Kirtipur Housing Project, a squatter resettlement
project was launched in 2004 to relocate the families
displaced due to construction of Bishnumati Link
Road in Kathmandu. Kirtipur Housing Project was
the first ever NGO led housing resettlement project
for evicted squatter families in the history of Nepal
with environmentally sustainable design solutions.
In 1999, the inhabitants of three squatter settlements
(Dhumakhel, Tankeshwari and Kalimati) along the
Bishnumati Corridor in the heart of Kathmandu Valley
were given the first eviction notices for the construction
of the Bishnumati Link Road (Lunde, 1994). Kirtipur
Housing Project was conceptualized by Lumanti (a
local NGO), the Kathmandu Municipality and the
‘genuine squatters’. The objectives of the project as Fig: Sattelite view of Kirtipur Housing
stated by the local NGO was: “to relocate Bishnumati
Link road affected families”. 3.1.4 Accessibility
The Kirtipur Housing is accessible only from one road
through public and private vehicles. Sub road from
3.1.2 Location Kirtipur ring road is directly accessible to the gate of
. the housing. The housing is only 160 meters away from
Six Ropanies land was purchased in Paliphal, Kirtipur the ring road.
which is 10 Km away from the center of Kathmandu.
(Safer and Affordable Housing for Urban Poor in the
3.1.5 Neighborhood planning
Kathmandu Valley, 2010)The population of the area is
The housing is located in moderately fine neighborhood.
approximately 49,606 and it is uniquely located on top
The neighborhood contains the natural open spaces and
of a steep rocky hill (Pradhan, 2001).
cultivable lands which is very sensitive to the local
ecology. It provides the opportunity to learn, live,
play as there are many schools and open land. This
neighborhood offers public spaces, with a variety and
mix of leisure and recreational opportunities. There are
chowks, hiti, patis, water ponds around which people
gather and interact, though these spaces are not in the
best condition. The open spaces have been used not
only for performing the personal daily activities but
are also commonly used as an area for celebrations and
festivals as well as other social events year round. The
environment can be chaotic and pollution is the main
problem. The neighborhood provides mobility choices
to and within the neighborhood. Although there is no
any provision of parking spaces.

Fig: Location map showing Kirtipur Housing Higher density around the commercial area gradually
and squatter settlement transitions to lower density. The area around the
Kirtipur ring road is very busy. There is provision of
health facilities with many health clinic, a health post
and hospitals. This neighborhood provides mixture
of building units. Most of the people residing in this
20
neighborhood are Newars. Rental houses, Social The housing is easily visible from a distance due to
housing, single family houses and traditional houses its neutral colour amidst green pockets of nature. It is
can be seen in the neighborhood with the diversity in situated in a residential area where the immediate living
economical standards. environment is noise and air pollution free.

Fig: Pictures showing surroundings around site

Fig: Pictures showing some of the open spaces in
neighborhood
21
3.1.5 Planning Type 1 has total floor area of 50 sq.m and has a one
The settlement comprises of 44, two storey houses way slope roof while type 2 has total floor area of 51.13
along with two community spaces as shown in the site sq.m and has two way slope roof. Toilets and kitchens
plan. There are nine blocks panned along the street. are incorporated within the same unit.

3.1.6 Housing Typologies

Row system of housing is arranged along two sides of
internal street. Even when the dwelling unit density
(per hectare) in the housing is as high as 144, the
dwelling units are planned around open spaces making
the planning less dense.

Fig: Type 1 Ground Floor

Fig: Type 1 First Floor

Note: These drawings are only presentation drawings.

Fig: Double row housing
Need to be considered for reference only.

The individual double storey housing unit of two rooms

in each floor, is dedicated to a family. There are two
types of such units- Type 1 and Type 2.

22
are low rise, because of which they do not cast shadow
on dwellings across the streets in winter as shown in
figure below.

Fig: Type 2 Ground Floor and First Floor

Fig: Shadow casted by the units during 15:00
Dec and 15:00, June in Kirtipur Housing,
Kirtipur

Fig: Elevation of each unit

Note: These drawings are only presentation drawings.
Need to be considered for reference only.

3.1.7 Orientation and passive design

Affordable housing has an optimum size plots. Therefore
designing the dwelling units considering passive solar
design in itself is a challenging job. The housing blocks
are oriented along NS axis. Each dwelling unit have
access to winter sunlight because of the planning
around the open spaces. However, the orientation of Fig: Wind direction
longer wall toward the south, for winter heat has been
less considered. A good point is that the dwelling units

23
The prevailing wind in Kirtipur flows from west to east
direction. The planning of dwellings in Kirtipur Hous-
ing has not considered the wind flow pattern. Howev-
er the northern part of the housing is comparatively
cooler in summer because of no structural obstacle in
the north-west side. (Sustainable Design and Thermal
Comfort Strategy: Cases of Urban “Affordable Hous-
ing” in Nepal)

3.1.8 Open spaces

There are two open spaces within the community itself.
Since these spaces are planned in between housing
units, it encourages the more use of space. It is used for
sun drying of grains, sun bathing during winters, drying
clothes etc. The street with in the housing is used for Fig: Community space
cultural activities such as deusi bhailo during Tihar. The
open land beside the housing is used as the playground
by children there. There is also a temple with in the
community which encourages the togetherness and
share of space. Residents have planted plants inside
their compound which give the housing a more natural
feeling.

The hiti and pati which is only 68m to the east of

the housing is used as interacting place among other
members of neighborhood during the collection of
drinking water. There is also a chowk, water pond
which is 245m away where many cultural activities and
celebrations are performed. Therefore, the interactions
within the community and neighborhood is cratered by
these open spaces.
Fig: Temple inside the housing
However, there is no any balconies or terraces to
encourage the engagement of people within and outside
the dwelling units. The room inside the house directly
opens up to the internal street. So there is no any semi
private space between street and room like porticos,
balconies, etc.

3.1.9 Building Technologies and Materials

• The housing units are made up of 4” thick burnt

exposed brick wall. The deduction on thickness
of wall can increase the interior space or in a
mass planning it can even increase the number of
dwelling unit.
• For the roofing material, the housing has RCC
slab for the ground floor and CGI sheet with metal
trusses for the first floor. Fig: Steel stairs
• These buildings are earthquake resistant and use
standard reinforced cement concrete frames.
• Steel stairs are provided in each housing units.

24
3.1.10 Infrastructures
3.1.10.1 Physical Infrastructures
Roads
The 20 feet wide road joins the Kirtipur ring road to the
housing. The plot has only one entrance to the southern
side which opens up to the internal stone paved street
of 9’7”. This street goes along in between the housing
units.

Parking
There is no any space dedicated to the parking as such.
People would park their bikes, cycles in front of their
houses.
Fig:Road joining the housing
Water Supply
Two wells are constructed and effort is being made to get
a drinking water pipe line from the government in each
houses. During dry season the water shortage is worse
so to overcome this problem, rain water harvesting is
introduced. Water is collected from every house from
one slope of the each unit. Three underground tanks are
built to collect rain water. Open space developed for
the community courtyard in the middle of the houses,
which were arranged rhythmically with blue corrugated
galvanized iron sheets, has been placed strategically
to infiltrate the harvested rainwater for ground water
recharging purpose and to make the people feel the
importance of greenery as well. And for the optimum
usage of water waste a low cost, natural waste water
treatment option i.e. Reed Bed Treatment system
(RBT), will also installed so that the treated water can Fig:Hand pump and well
be reused for various purposes like gardening, cleaning
and flushing.
There is also the water tank which collects the water
from the tankers and this water is filtered and distributed
to the residents every two to three days in a week.
Moreover, there is also a Hiti which is also used for the
drinking water.

Sewerage
The sewerage from each house hold goes to each
manhole and collected to the septic tank and send to
main sewerage line.

Solid waste management

It is handled by municipality where municipality truck
comes to collect the waste collectively outside the
housing. However, the Kirtipur Housing Project also
incorporates solid and liquid waste recycling, recovery
and reuse mechanisms. Training was provided on Fig: Picture showing internal
collecting and managing solid wastes, including street and rain water harvesting pipes
composting techniques. Similarly, possible ways of
recycling and reusing the solid waste were disseminated

25
through demonstrations with an indication of potential
benefits and livelihood opportunities that can be reaped
through effective waste management. As an outcome
of this awareness on waste management, kitchen
waste composting has made it possible to retrieve the
nutrients in the waste to recycle them back to the soil.

3.1.10.2 Social Infrastructures

Schools
• Shree Bishwo Rastriya School is 560m away from
the housing. Fig:Shree Bishwo Rastriya School
• South Valley School is 1.1 km away.
• Himalayan College 200m south from the housing.

Hospitals
• Kirtipur Hospital is 800 m North of the Housing.
• Paliphal Health post is near the site.
• There are numerous clinics around.

Temples and Churches

There are many temples around the neighborhood.
• Bagh Bhairav temple is 800m east from the housing.
• Buddha Chaitya is 650m north-east of the site.
• Tabernacle Church is also 650 south of the site. Fig:Kirtipur Hospital

3.1.11 Economic Opportunity

The job opportunity around Kirtipur Housing is low
because of being located in residential zone and quite
at a distance from the market place. More than 60
percentage of the occupants from the housing, Kirtipur
traveled greater than 4 km to reach to their work place.
However, most of the residents have their own vehicle
to travel.

3.1.12 Financial Matters

The land costs were subsidized by the Urban
Community Support Fund (UCSF) and the price of
each house was tagged at NRs. 3, 30,000/- for type Fig:Bagh Bhairav Temple
1 and NRs. 3, 50, 000/- for type 2. The funds for the
houses were borrowed through UCSF and were to
be repaid at an affordable level, decided upon by the
community representatives. The inhabitants set a
reasonable monthly payment of NRs. 2000/- for a
period of 15 years at an interest rate of 3%. The houses
will remain owned by UCSF until the loans are repaid
by the recipient families. A number of major national
and international organizations also contributed for the
provision of services for Kirtipur Housing Project such
as Water Aid (water and sanitation); Department of
Urban Development and Building Construction (stone
Fig:South Valley School
paving); UN Habitat – rain water harvesting; Center
for Integrated Urban Development (Water filter), etc
(Lumanti, 2005).
26
In order to insure that the process of distributing 3.1.15 Conclusion and Analysis
the houses remains unbiased, they have placed Despite all these claims, there have been numerous
responsibility in the hands of the Kirtipur Housing weaknesses acknowledged after many years of
Management Committee to allot houses based on a completions. First, the layout plan and the detailing of
lottery system. This system is a very effective means to individual unit do not fit with the needs of squatters.
allot houses since the lottery took place in front of theAfter talking with many dwellers, they have complained
whole community. One of the key challenges was to for lack of flexibility in the rooms, absence of terrace
identify the genuine squatters from the community. The for various activities such as grain and cloth drying,
details of the total 142 families were obtained and a list
difficulties in vertical expansion and so on. As the
of those most vulnerable were drawn up. Out of them households need a lot of spaces to store their junk
only 62 families were identified as genuine squatters stuffs, no separate such spaces were provided in the
needing relocation. This filtered down to 30 households unit design. As a result, those stuffs were scattered here
being included in the final list. Some of the communitiesand there inside the room thereby reducing the effective
did not show interest in the relocation mainly due to spaces. A loft space below the ceiling could have easily
location of the project site, which was not suitable for solved this problem. Many people question regarding
them. And remaning housing unit was decided to be the use of building materials, which were brought from
provided for other urban poors. a long distance.
This committee also solves the problems that occur Although the installation of rain water harvesting and
in the housing with community participation. All the treatment plan sound good, nonetheless, their operation
facilities are managed by the management committee and maintenance is not smooth at present. Overflow
such as cleaning of roads, playgrounds, water supply of the safety tank is seen and the water pumps and
treatment, waste managements, etc. Girls living in the filters are not working. As a result, the households are
housing were also provided with skill development forced to go the neighboring places for water. Also the
activities like handicraft to make them independent. working site and travel fair can be high for the residents
according to them.
3.1.13 Affordability No parking space has caused the crowding in internal
• The location for the housing project was decided street. Open spaces have not been used properly in the
after lengthy discussions with the affected community. Building units directly opening to the street
families as to their needs and visions for their new can affect the privacy within the households.
community.
• Affordability also had to be taken into consideration
given that the families must make monthly
repayments to the fund.
• The housing design was chosen by the community
from several alternatives presented.
• Single brick wall has been used for construction.
• Rain water harvesting and reb beed water treatment
has been introduced.
• Trainings have been provided for recycling and
reuse

3.1.14 Analysis on Affordability

For two storey structures,
• They could have gone on local material and
traditional construction technology.
• They could have used load bearing structure rather
than the framed one.
• Wooden frames of doors and windows could be
replaced.

27
3.2 ELEMENTAL HOUSING MONTERREY, MEXICO
VERTICAL PROGRESSIVE HOUSING FRAC. “THE ANACUAS

3.2.2 Problem
3.2.1 Project Detail At present day, a majority of the world’s population
Concept/Architect: Alejandro Aravena/ ELEMENTAL
is urbanized, living in cities, towns and other urban
Project Types: Affordable Housing ,Community ,
places resulting in rapid population growth in the urban
Cultural
area creating challenges for city planners in carrying
Urban planning design strategy, Architecture
out sustainable urban development projects, and the
Year: 2008 to 2010
biggest problem is to create access to the opportunities
Client: Instituto de la vivienda de Nuevo
which cities tend to concentrate in small areas - jobs,
leon(IVNL)
markets, education, health, recreation and social
User Client: Low-income households (affordable
assistance. Because those opportunities are not in the
housing)
outskirts of cities where land is cheap and where many
No. of beneficiaries: 70 households(70 housing units)
people tend to be expelled to. Elemental’s Alejandro
Cost per unit: US$20,000
Aravena elaborates: “Scarcity of means generates two
problems: Reduction of size and displacement. Units
are reduced to unacceptable standards and land being
a limited resource, social housing tends to be located
in the outskirts, segregated from opportunities, where
land is cheap.”

A successful “half of a good house” satisfies the

following five conditions:
1. Good location: dense enough projects able to pay
for expensive well located sites.
2. Harmonious growth in time: build strategically
the first half (partition structural and firewalls,
bathroom, kitchen, stairs, roof) so that expansion
happens thanks to the design and not despite it.
Frame individual performances and actions, so that
we get a customization instead of deterioration of
the neighborhood.
3. Urban layout: introduce in between private space
(lot) and public space (street), the collective
space, not bigger than 25 families, so that social
agreements can be maintained.
28
4. Provide structure for the final scenario of growth 3.2.4 Location
(middle class) and not just for the initial one. Santa Catarina(Monterrey), Nuevo Leon, Mexico
5. Middle-class DNA: plan for a final scenario of at Location is much more important than the size of the
least 72m2 or 4 bedrooms (3x3m) with space for building
closet or double bed, bathrooms should not be at
the front door (which is the typical case to save
pipes) but where bedrooms are; they may include a
bathtub and not just a shower receptacle and space
for washing machine; there should be possibility of
parking place for a car. None of this is even close to
be the case in social housing nowadays.
Elemental’s Monterrey housing is the project following
the same above mentioned goals and principle.
It provides solutions that balance aesthetics with
affordability.
Balancing;

Area:
Land area: 6592 Sq.m.
Initial house: 40 Sq.m.
Final house: 76.6 Sq.m.
Initial Duplex: 40 Sq.m.
3.2.3 Initiation Expanded duplex: 76 Sq.m.
This project is Elemental’s first outside of Chile. For
the ongoing rapid global population growth in the 3.2.5 Mass Concept
urban areas, Governments recognized that they must Slums, they mostly begin from the need of a shelter.
take action in view of the enormous growth of the urban They keep repairing their building periodically to make
populations in the developing world creating a great their house more livable. There will be time when the
challenges for city planners in carrying out sustainable function that must be fulfilled by a house is improved,
urban development projects. so it is necessary to do expansion at available land.
Alejandro Aravena was assigned to design a group of Expansion is carried out until all primary functions are
70 homes on a site of 6 hectar located in a middle class met, or land for expansion is no longer available. From
neighborhood whose main characteristic is being on here, it can be seen that the existence of slums shows an
a hillside within the municipality of Santa Catarina. incompetence hence poor shelter is the most possible
The required density suggested the application of the solution
typology developed for Iquique. However, the climate The idea of a incremental housing is to channel the
in Santa Catarina is very different from the northern capacity to build houses by people living in slums
dessert climate of Chile. The 600 mm of annual rainfall toward the right direction. Incremental housing is also
required to adapt our proposal to this new question. an effective strategy to planning low-cost house. It
The commission to develop this middle class allows a family or families to have a place to live in by
neighborhood with the financing of US$20,000 per building it in stages according to the economic capacity
dwelling. However, the construction standards and of the family, then can expand it in a controlled plan
building codes significantly raise the construction when it requires additional functions and when the
costs. In this case, it was pertinent to use the strategy of family has sufficient costs.
investing state resources to build “the difficult half” of
the home, especially given the capacity do-it-yourself
building observed in Mexico, ensuring a promising
future for the expansions.

29
The shape of a incremental housing is basically mass
of a whole house that is divided into two stages of
development, namely the mass part of the house built
in the initial stage and the remaining mass that will be
completed by the occupants at any time

3.2.6 Site Planning

Index
The overall layout of the project and The buildings are
arranged in a rectangle around a shared garden, with
a two-storey apartment above each ground-floor house
forming a internal courtyard.
• 2,200 square meters of green areas (B)
• Subdivision made up of 14 buildings that, together,
total 70 homes
• Almost 50% of the square meters of the Las Anacuas • Both units are designed to technically and
complex was made with self-construction. economically facilitate the final middle class
• The building is porous so that growth occurs within standard of which will hand over the “first half” (40
its structure. Sq.m.).
On the one hand, the members of Elemental point out,
the intention was to frame and rhythm (rather • The difficult parts of the house (bathrooms,
than control) the spontaneous construction to avoid the kitchen, stairs, and dividing walls) are designed
deterioration of the urban environment over time and, for the expanded scenario, that is, for a home of
on the other hand, to make the enlargement process more than 58 Sq.m. approx. and an apartment of
easier for each family. In this sense, the continuous approximately 76 Sq.m.
roof that was proposed in the project on full and empty
spaces, protects the expansion areas from rain while
ensuring the final profile of the building in front of the
public space.
• Materials: Reinforced concrete and concrete block.

30
3.2.7 Planning
• ELEMENTAL’S Monterrey consists of a three-story continuous building that in section superimposes a home
(first floor) with a two-story apartment above (2nd and 3rd story).

• Both units are designed to technically and

economically facilitate the final middle class
standard of which will hand over the “first half” (40
Sq.m.).
• The difficult parts of the house (bathrooms,
kitchen, stairs, and dividing walls) are designed
for the expanded scenario, that is, for a home of
more than 58 Sq.m. approx. and an apartment of
approximately 76 Sq.m..

31
32
Given that almost 50% of the m2 of the complex will be
self-built, this building is porous so that the growth can
occur within the structure. On one hand they wanted
to frame and give rhythm (more than control) to the
spontaneous construction so as to avoid deterioration
of the urban environment over time, and also make
the process of expansions for each family easier. The
proposed continuous roof above the volumes and voids
protects the expansion zones from rain and ensures
a definitive profile of the building toward the public
space. It is believed that in lower-class neighborhoods the
green areas tend to be ‘dirt’, due to the low maintenance
3.2.8 Façade
and the distance between the green area and the house,
House planning without fixed finishing brings some
which prevents neighbors from they can take care of
benefits, including:
it. The creators of Las Anacuas did was “surround”
Simple form without a lot of ornaments, speed up the
the green area with the building, thus reducing the
processing time
distance between the community space and the homes
Requires less finishing costs,
The finishing work done by residents independently, to a minimum.
makes the appearance of housing more varies.
3.2.9 Motive
• To improve the human spirit
• Respond to our growing need for clean water,
power, shelter, healthcare, education
• To develop the neighborhood for low-income class
3.2.10 Open space

33
3.2.11 Services
• This allowed defining a collective space of protect- • Housing at the distance of 345m from the main
ed accesses, which gives rise to the interaction of highway
social networks, generating favorable conditions • Institutions within the range of 500m(Don José
for maintenance and care to occur due to the prox- Calderón Ayala)
imity of the houses. So, all departments have direct • The proximity to the urban fabric expresses close
access from the public space and parking, a condi- availability of services and opportunities, making
tion that is especially relevant in a country where the families more available to improve their life
any family can access a car conditions.
• In this case, it was pertinent to use the strategy of
• The whiteness of the work; its symmetrical propor- investing state resources to build “the difficult half”
tion; the impressive views that can be had from any of the home. Given that almost 50% of the square
cardinal point, towards the nearby mountains and meters of the complex will be self-built, it allows
the compositional quality stand out greatly in this for growth to occur within the structure. By using
small great work of social housing that undoubt- the old 1970’s incremental housing, an open system
edly has all the elements to become a paradigm in was introduced that allows a family’s own capacity
terms of housing of interest Social. of action and self-construction to be added to the
solution. That openness dissolves the old critique to
social housing namely: the monotonous repetition
of solutions which is unable to accommodate the
diversity of needs, preferences and expectations of
people.

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3.2.12 Affordability

Monterrey is a series of house designed for low-income With the limited amount of budget, instead of making
class. In the Mexican housing market, the cheapest a smaller sized building, Elemental stated to build half
solution that is offered is about $30,000 dollar. So, the of a good and comfortable sized one instead of making
poor are not being reached. Elemental has developed an smaller home
improved version of Iquique’s Quinta Monroy where
houses underneath and the duplex apartments on top
This architectural design functionally solve the
have an initial cost of $20,000 dollars and they could
problem, which people need have a better house to
rebuild the expansions by themselves.
live and cannot afford a higher price. And this kind of
mode that people have freedom to build another half
In order to achieve a middle-income standard of 72m2
house could bring more possibilities to the community
after self-built expansions, the efficiency in land use
Project.
without overcrowding, allowed to purchase land in a
neighborhood where the average cost is $50,000 dollars.
They have benefitted the families from that value gain. Important awards
The proximity to the urban fabric expresses close The Las Anacuas, low-income housing complex was
availability of services and opportunities, making the selected finalist in the last XIX edition of the CEMEX
families more available to improve their life conditions. Building Award and was also awarded by the Design
Museum in London, England, with a prize called the
Brit Insurance Design Award,

About Architect and his thoughts

Aravena’s social housing projects, combine innovative
architectural design with a social framework that en-
courages personal investment on the part of the inhab-
itants.
In the case of social housing, he argues, one problem
is that many of the architects translating resources into
solutions are either unskilled or unengaged. “One of
the crucial factors we found that makes social housing
so poor is that nobody is paying to think about it better.
Good design costs money, but social housing is either
done pro bono, or by people who couldn’t find jobs in
other places.” This lack of resources and engagement
leads to poor results, which can often be felt for gener-
ations.
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. “This is equivalent to brain surgery. If you make a mistake, it’s irreversible. If you screw it up, you screw it up
for thousands of people, over multiple generations.”

One reason that top-level architects shy away from

social housing is the lack of resources. In his social
housing projects, Aravena routinely works with a
hard cap of $10,000 (£6,120) per unit, a sum that
has to pay for both the building and the land it sits
on. But, while many architects would shy away from
such constraints, Aravena argues that the “discipline
of scarcity” leads to a clarity of vision and quality
of design that would be impossible under other
circumstances. Designing social housing, he claims,
has taught him to “leave out what is not strictly vital.
Be precise. Avoid arbitrariness.”(Bruce Watson)

3.2.13 Conclusion
Ensuring a balance between “low-rise high-density, without overcrowding, with the possibility of expansion
(from social housing to middle-class dwelling).”
“Low rise, dense enough complexes, that allow to pay for expensive well located land” Alejandro Aravena,
Elemental
The housing complex balances low-rise high-density building envelopes, limits overcrowding, and allows for
the possibility of expansion from social housing to middle class dwellings. It limits the number of families and
individuals in the homes, focuses on creating public spaces that are separated from those that are private, and
allowing for growth and development as needs change.
In order to deal with scarce resources, Elemental introduced Incremental Design; the government delivers what
families can’t do privately and people expand afterwards, allowing housing to work as a social investment and
not as a mere public expense. The design is low rise but dense enough so that it allows paying for expensive, well
located land, without overcrowding and with capacity for expansions. Alejandro Aravena goes on: “By framing
the void for that expansion to happen, we are not only making the process structurally safe and economic for the
families, but also taking care of the future quality of the neighborhood after self-construction. This is important
because we are looking for value gain of the properties. All of us, when buying a house expect it to grow its value
over time. We identified a set of design conditions that allow a unit to increase its value over time, and if that
happens, housing can be understood as an investment and not as a mere social expense.” expansion and flexibility
- allowing your home to grow with your needs and resources.

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4. Slum and squatter housing
4.1 Khayelitsha in Cape Town (South 4.1.2 Empower Shack
Africa)
4.1.1 Introduction
One of the largest slum of about: 400,000

Fig: Slum in Khayelitsha

Fig: Empower shack housing
The project was launched in 2013 by a team of South African and international architects and designers under the
name Urban-Think Tank (U-TT) in a colony of 68 houses with about 700 people living in slum of Khayelitsha
which was originally established as an apartheid ‘dumping-ground’ in the ’80s.
The project aims to reshape the approach to informal settlement upgrading by offering an innovative and inclusive
methodology for the fair distribution of public space, delivery of basic services, and an urbanization scheme that
combines housing upgrades with a safer urban environment and new economic and social

The approach moves beyond turn-key housing solutions

by focusing on the construction of living environments
that integrate livelihoods programs that encompass
micro-financing, renewable energy, water management,
and skills training.

The resulting densification offers efficient land use to

infrastructure ratio, provides cross finance possibilities
through additional rental and sales stock and most
importantly fulfills the need to guarantee all residents
the right to remain on site.

Additionally, the readjusted building stock, new land Fig: Conceptual 3d of Housing
plot sizes and allocation of public space are designed to
integrate with municipal planning frameworks.
4.1.3 Project Phase:
After the completion of first prototype and its success,
more than 20 prototype units have been built in
Khayelitsha, Cape Town.
The second phase Empower Shack 2.0 with better
structure was completed on four houses in 2015.
The project still continues to grow sucessfully and
effieciently.

(hudson, 2014)

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Empower Shack 1.0

Fig: First completed housing

Empower Shack 2.0
Fig: Self built double storey house on site The prototype was received with much enthusiasm by
the community and the city of Cape Town that U–TT
U-TT got its inspiration from the double storey self was asked to produce a second iteration using more
built house on the site and used almost same materials permanent, durable materials. Empower Shack 2.0 has
for the lowcosting. concrete block walls, a floating concrete slab and the
addition of a kitchen unit.

Fig: Second phase completed housing

Fig: first prototype 4.1.5 Problems
The living conditions are dire – shacks are built so close
4.1.4 Materials used together that fire is a constant threat; toilets and water
Using affordable materials such as iron sheeting, taps are shared with poor sanitation leading to the rapid
plywood and hollow-core bricks, the Empower Shack spread of disease; levels of violence and crime are high.
is a modern and affordable double-storey structure,
that is minimalist and focused on function, safety and 4.1.6 Solutions
affordability without losing its aesthetic appeal. • concrete block walls to prevent from spreading of
fire.
• raised platform to prevent from flood.
• indoor sanitation core.
• planned public spaces.
• space to grow a tree in each housing.

This year Urban-Think Tank added another 16 units

as part of their larger goal to demonstrate an adaptable
method of designing safe and accessible housing units
within urban plans.
This phase of the project has earned it a spot on the
RIBA International Prize 2018 longlist, a biennial
competition that recognises the world’s best new
buildings that benefit their surrounding communities.

38
Urban-Think Tank has also developed software that can easily model different urban layouts for the Empower
Shacks to be built in.

4.1.7 Building details

The building have metal-clad modular wood frame structure which is economical for the residents and can be
self-built.
Jumping back in scale, the project also features a master plan that begins to structure informally developed
neighborhoods to include courtyards, public space, and improved circulation through a ‘blocking out’ system.
Each home is allotted a determined amount of space that allows the structure to expand as the inhabitants need it,
still fitting within a more organized framework.
Transsolar has also made it possible to incorporate solar energy on every rooftop, making each house an energy-
producing machine that would provide the necessary electric needs for the immediate residents and community.
The ongoing project is intended to alleviate the housing crisis in informal settlements during a time when the
government has begun incrementally improving the housing situation.
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4.1.8 Self determined openings
A clip-lock cladding system is self-supporting, adds bracing and is available in 40 cm modules -suitable for the
structure. openings can be made depending on materila availibility and the needs of the inhabitant. The owner is
not dependent, therefore, on a particular floor plan to determine the interface between public and private space.
The houses are arranged around a sanitation core, providing water and toilets on site. A second level or even a
third can be added if needed, to accommodate different family sizes.

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4.1.9 Cost and Economy 4.1.10 Weather in Khayelitsha
To build these house it costs $8 000 which is about R90
000. The houses come with a fully fitted bathroom and
the bottom part can be used as business or be rented out
to make extra money.
Micro-financing schemes are built into the planning
tools, allowing residents to take out small, ethical loans
when building an Empower Shack or adding another
storey.

The denser accommodation means land is used more

efficiently and guarantees residents can remain at the
same site, keeping community ties intact. Community
members who live in the units also become long-term
stakeholders in the project.

“We thought if we could build a house with a micro

loan that could be paid in 10 years, we could have a
solution that people can afford. We could bring a whole
change in the community.”
-Alfredo Brillembourg, founding partner of
Urban-Think Tank

4.1.11 Analytical Review

EMPOWER SHACK : an immediate response to the housing crisis of south africa, the empower shack is a self-
built affordable house with far reaching implications for the betterment of informal urban communities.
U-TT has done a great job creating a better living standard for the people living in slum of Khayelitsha.
Studying the weather and the economy, the prototype of Empower Shack fulfills every need of the people.
This project with incremental compliance which gets build up over time is giving hope for the people to do better
with their life by changing the environment of the settlement.
This project has proven that Architects can really change the quality of living.

(urban-thinktank, 2018)

41
Conclusion
After literature review, we analyzed different housing for the practical overview of our theoretical knowledge.
We studied different types of housing i.e. commercial housing, social housing, co-operative housing, housing
for slums and squatters in our case study. we learned about different requirement of neighborhood planning in
different types. The technology used in different housing to fulfill the need of occupants. Low cost housing and
the affordability of the residence. Collaboration of open and the closed space in dense settlement. Use of the
simple to complex architectural style to break the monotony and steps towards passive design and sustainability.
In our commercial building Interlace, we learned how to incorporate the surrounding natural environment into
the design for improving the overall experience of living. Using open spaces like courtyards, sky gardens, roof
terraces to encourage social interaction among the residents and sustainable elements like extensive roof garden,
bio-retention basin, vegetable greenery to make the design more eco-friendly. From Newhall Be we can learn
how the traditional and modern architecture can be merged together to solve the new problems .The management
of open spaces through the introduction of simple step like terrace courtyard can also be learned. Over all we can
learn how can we manage the open spaces and get a better neighborhood plan in dense settlement (less land) from
Newhall Be. From Kirtipur Housing, we learnt how the involvement of dwellers in site allocating and planning
helps to sustain healthy life. We can also see, the diversity of economic standards in a neighborhood helps in
overall growth of people. Elemental’s Monterrey Housing introduced us with Incremental housing design. This
project demonstrates the affordable housing constructed within a low-resource setting along with infrastructures
and alternatives to ensure a balance between “low-rise high-density, without overcrowding, with the possibility
of expansion (from social housing to middle-class dwelling). From casestudy of slums and sqautter housing,
which was done on the “Empower Shack” slum housing of Khayelistsha, one of the largest slum of world, we
were able to gather knowloedge about the lowcost housing and effecting urban planning. U-TT has done a grear
job designing “Empower Shack” from lowcost and easily available materials from the site. From the study of this
project, we can learn that we can so much more with limited land and budget with proper design ideas.

42
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