An Evaluation of user participatory housing: co-relation between socio-economic composition and house design of low income people in Kurunegala District

Abstract

Introduction of Design Aspect and Socio Economic component The present day versions of shelter in the forms of mass housing are usually meant to meet the quantitative requirements of people such as habitable space. However housing also can reflect subtle and symbolic purposes pertaining to specific individual traits such as personality and identity, which are qualitative in nature. The present study reveals that a person who tries to meet his immediate shelter needs satisfies with a mere house, but once he tends to modify his living space, particularly the extension of the house. An attempt to create a personalized living environment. Further, it reveals that socioeconomic advancement of people, mostly in terms of income and social status, as the major cause, which catalyze this process. In some societies, Socio economic mobility of people may result their movement to new locations. This phenomenon was noted insignificant in the studied housing scheme in Sri Lanka, where people have taken the alternative of adapting their houses to meet new housing needs. This phenomenon is most often not visualized by the designers. So that mass housing schemes are under a threat of becoming organized slums due to haphazard modifications. Therefore it is argued that the possibility of Socio - economic mobility of people should also be considered in designing housing for them. It is expected that flexible house designs in terms of land, open space and physical structures may cater for the changing housing needs of these people better than the usually provided prototype house designs. Thus the present study proposes level of designs flexibility spatiality. Since the existing housing policies of "Support base" user participatory can accommodate the flexibility proposed with minor amendments, the study attempts to specify the required changes in housing strategy.