extending the basic house how and why people modify their homes

extending themselves: User Initiated Transformations of Government Built Housing in Developing Countries by Graham Tipple

overview of text Extending Themselves: User-Initiated transformations of government-built housing in developing countries written by Graham Tipple Book stems from Tipple visits to a community at Helwan in Eygpt Balconies had been filled in, Goat and Turkey cages were slung on the outside of the flats, occasional upper floor dweller had cantilevered out an extension... Looks at four case studies from developing countries Concentrates on general process and at other times on city specific issues arising from transformations

research Tipple identifies advantages and disadvantages of transformations as housing supply becomes more prominent Focus on government built, low cost housing in countries that represent diversity of the developing world Proposes substantial evidence to counter the negative arguments by controllers and authorities locally. Social housing with its transformations are often referred to as Building Slums Raises questions: why do some modify and others do not in neighboring locations? through his research established similar set of socio-economic and physical circumstances may have a very different outcome in varying locations. very different circumstances may generate similar responses within this study

findings Immediately after the second world war, government housing estates for low income workers was a new concept for most developing countries, particularly in Africa. 2 of the 4 case studies refer to Africa, and explore providing housing for returning veterans and new urban laboring class. Helping to combine families. Flat for a single man was replaced with a 3 habitable room and self contained units. Generally there was narrow allowance for housing projects and government decided better spent in more productive areas. therefore design was skimp on the finishes and the size of rooms reduced. but basic structural strength was rarely compromised

our objective To demonstrate that transformations are a valid activity in housing supply and should be supported as part of a countries housing policy through the following case studies: MEXICALI, MEXICO Christopher Alexander ST PAULS VILLAGE, AUSTRALIA Paul Haar NEW GOURNA, EYGPT Hassan Fathy QUARTIERS MODERNES FUGES, FRANCE Le Corbusier Describe the characteristics of the transformations made, speculate on the reasons why modifications were made, and compare this to the indigenous housing situation

case study 1: Mexicali self help housing project, California by Christopher Alexander

mexicali http://www.greatbuildings.com/cgi-bin/gbi.cgi/houses_in_mexicali.html/cid_1038177194_mexicali2.html

introducing mexicali Project located at border town Mexicali in the colonias populares district 1975 Christopher Alexander was asked by the government of the state of Baja California to instruct the self-help housing project. Architects & students involved Government provided land in one block for 30 families to design their own homes The city was growing rapidly in all directions due to continuous flow of settlers coming from all parts of Mexico in search of work Came to Mexicali to demonstrate a method of design and construction appropriate to selfhelp housing in this region Pattern Language developed by Alexander would be used as a basis for the design

introducing mexicali Alexander envisioned building a community, autonomous and alive instead of isolated Produce connections between room and house, house and street, street and town, all helping to complete and support eachother Pattern Language was seen to help foster individual and group autonomy and encourage community pride and identification Government has started several pilot projects to demonstrate how to buid earthquake-proof structures and how to insulate against the climate. Government viewed Alexander s project to demonstrate similar easy construction techniques for this locale.

introducing builder s yard Key concept of self-help housing project was centered around a builder s yard. Builder s yard would become an institution and a place where anyone could go and learn about construction and building materials Materials and tools were stored community to come together to discuss and get advice Building system= soil-cement blocks with concrete roofs Each room had an individually vaulted or domed roof that gave the group of buildings distinctive appearance Constructed around courtyards Designed in units of clusters to create social bonds among families

the project success & failure February 1976 five families answered the government advertisement. first lot of clusters were built each family laid out the design of its own house, each was different after many delays houses were completed second cluster laid out but was never stated government did not renew the contract Was it a success or failure? construction process very labour intensive- required time, skill and ingenuity improving the environment, creating community, good design were not settlers priorities settlers wanted quick and simple housing Material composition and thermal capacity insufficient

7 years later.. what modifications were made? 5 families still live in the cluster. only 1 of the 5 houses face the courtyard. All 5 houses modifications vary Entry reoriented to face the street not the courtyard Fence (six-foot brick wall ) built to define boundary, close off courtyard as one family took over & security Porch enclosed Room locations altered and redesigned to maximise sun Second dome for insulation and thermal performance

7 years later.. what modifications were made?

why did residents modify? Communal area was a good idea but it didn t work. one family took over the space, Understood the qualities they wanted each room to have once living there After time understanding of each rooms function and use Better thermal performance Increase in number of occupants Increase security Ownership undefined lack of privacy

conclusions Attempt to create a community through builder s yard and the cluster layouts and designs sounded like a good idea but in theory didn t work occupants required privacy, security and site boundary Construction materials and method successful

Fromm, D., & Bosselmann, P. (1984). Mexicali Revisited: Seven Years Later. Places: A Quarterly Journal of Environmental Design, 1(4).

case study 2: St Pauls Village, Moa Island, Torres Strait by Paul Haar

introducing st paul s Self Help Housing Aims were to share appropriate technical strategies Torres Strait islanders have a desire to own their own homes

introducing st paul s Used materials which were found locally Reflected local lifestyle aspirations http://www.architecturemedia.com/aa/aaissue

what modifications were made? http://www.ozoutback.com.au/postcards Timber poles with carvings in them (flowers, sharks, dugongs ) Curtains (colourful) Split bamboo screens creating visual boundaries Shell tassels in door ways

The cultural design paradigm involves the use of models of culturally distinct behavior to inform definitions of Aboriginal housing needs. Paul Memmott

conclusions Positive Unintentionally contribute to significant change in social and political order of the whole community http://www.architecturemedia.com/aa/aaissue Not all positive Falling out with other families in community because of project

case study 3: New Gourna, Egypt by Hassan Fathy

At least one billion people will die early deaths and will live stunted lives because of unsanitary, uneconomic, and ugly housing William R. Polk

http://http://www.culturalenergy.org/images/gourna.jpg

introducing new gourna Gourna, located near Luxor in Upper Egypt Experimental housing project designed & built by Egyptian architect Hassan Fathy 1945 to 1948 Commissioned by Egyptian government to relocate 7000 Gournis to a new village Relocate Gournis from the hills and sacred Pharaonic tombs to prevent antiquities being illegally excavated and sold

introducing new gourna Hassan Fathy aimed to revive traditional/pre-modern adobe construction of housing Fathy encouraged locals to be involved in building the houses, and gain skills Buildings & spaces graded from public to private Designated services & sleeping areas Courtyards

introducing new gourna Adobe construction Domes, vaults & arches Aesthetics, climate responsive, traditional Islamic values & symbols New Gourna uninhabited for 13 years. 1960 s Gournis & squatters began to live in some spaces & modify them

what modifications were made? Vaulted ceilings concealed with traditional flat ceilings Arched doorways infilled to have rectilinear shapes Window and door openings reduced in size & some completely filled in Rooms closed off

what modifications were made? Proposed functions of rooms altered to suit social & farming needs Interior spaces made darker & more private

why did residents modify? Difference between architect s ideals and the people s ideals More comfortable with traditional housing layouts Political agendas

why did residents modify? Practicalities & traditions of farming needs Religious beliefs Social behaviours Climatic response Cultural & traditional patterns

conclusions Architect vs. the People Cultural disparity Political tensions Identity The given village

If you were given a million pounds, what would you do with them? I had two possible answers: one, to buy a yacht, hire an orchestra, and sail round the world with my friends listening to Bach, Schumann and Brahms; the other, to build a village where the fellaheen would follow the way of life that I would like them to. Fathy

http://a21.idata.over-blog.com/300x225/1/91/99/85/g.blog.jpg

Australian indigenous housing A typical difference occurs between the architect and the tenant. The architect is educated in an urban environment and dwells in that realm for an amount of time, ideas of what is an improvement on another s life can be quite extreme from the ideas of people from a remote country area (who s lives are being improved) Cultural values and beliefs can often be a major point of contrast in housing outcomes Government agendas may overpower a housing project excluding efforts to consider cultural needs The identity of the occupant is erased in a new building that is foreign to their cultural values The given abode removes a sense of ownership for the occupant, it creates a difficult task that is ultimately an attempt at enforced occupancy.

case study 2: Quartiers Modernes Fruges, Pessac by Le Corbusier

http://incrementalhouse.blogspot.com/2008/07/pessac-france-quartiers-modernes-fruges.html

You know, it is always life that is right and the architect who is wrong Le Corbusier Boudon, P. (1972). Lived-in Architecture. London: Lund Humphries.

introducing pessac Modification in provided housing Sense of ownership Housing project Fruges and Le Corbusier in 1926 Modernist solution to low cost housing Worried and stupefied Architect has gone mad. No buyers Given to low income earners Modified to be individual http://edition.cnn.com/world/europe/9805/11/euro.money/map.france.pessac.paris.jpg

Boudon, P. (1972). Lived-in Architecture. London: Lund Humphries.

what modifications were made? Decoration added to façade Customary to today bay windows added Repainting ugly facades

what modifications were made? Pitched roofs Roof terrace enclosed Side extensions / enclosures Large windows reduced

Boudon, P. (1972). Lived-in Architecture. London: Lund Humphries.

what modifications were made? Partition walls built inside Didn t want open plan Corridors introduced Room uses changed

why did residents modify? Practical and functional Aesthetic Customary to today Individual??? Wanted to follow a regional style Tradition Conservatism to conformism

why did residents modify? Broader issues involved Felt discriminated against Highly undesirable places to live Reasonable to want to fit in Boudon, P. (1972). Lived-in Architecture. London: Lund Humphries.

Basic instinctive desire that I believe lies deep within all of us regardless of our ethnic or socio-economic background - the desire to do our own nest building, our own home making. Paul Haar Read, P., & Haar, P. (2000). Settlement: a History of Australian Indigenous Housing, A Self-help Approach to Remote Area Housing. Canberra: Aboriginal Studies Press.

why did residents modify? Broader issues involved Good sense of ownership European culture Value on possessions such as houses Defined physical boundaries in apartment Belonging and responsibility Boudon, P. (1972). Lived-in Architecture. London: Lund Humphries.

conclusions Modified provided homes Modifications contributed to awareness of needs Changed their homes Changed the way they live Brought positive change Boudon, P. (1972). Lived-in Architecture. London: Lund Humphries.

Australian indigenous housing Typically don t modify provided homes Feeling of discrimination Lack a sense of pride and will to modify Architectural conservatism when they move into their new conventional houses, many display a strong Architectural conservatism which results in requests for conventional-looking houses. Any deviation from the local white standards of rural or urban housing may be resented Paul Memmott Memmott, P. (2004) Aboriginal Housing has the State of the Art Improved?. Architecture Australia.

Australian indigenous housing Lack a sense of ownership No defined physical boundaries What do I own? What am I responsible for? Traditional cultural reasons Less value placed on materialistic possessions Even more so in provided homes Building sense of ownership and pride in the home extremely difficult Self-help housing People involved in design an construction

Australian indigenous housing Is this what the person involved wants?