Process of user adaptations of architect-designed houses in large-scale housing situations

Abstract

"Home is the most important segment of the entire built environment. It is man's little corner of the world. Even though family is the smallest unit of the society, it is the most powerful element that governs it. Hence, home is the center of administration, in a particular society" According to Dayarathne; ''Housing is the process enabling the act of dwelling, establishing one's existence as appropriate for his living on earth, in the form of making- home." (Dayarathe,1995) In the home -making process the architect's task is immeasurable, as the sole responsibility of providing a good built form comes under his vision. In a design for a single-family dwelling, the identification of different interests and values may not be difficult. But in large scale housing projects, a number of groups of people with different and conflicting objectives exist. So the essential personal qualities of a single family have been suppressed due to standardization, a prevalent attitude towards planning and designing. Accordingly, the architect has only a limited number of options in this regard. The people do their own adaptations in order to suit their needs. While creating some adaptations they try to achieve the lacking physical and psychological needs and desires. Thus, user adaptation is part of the process of home making, the transformation of house into home. The home-making process along with user adaptations is not static. It's a constant process. It exists and inter-plays with social, cultural ritual and economic factors. These factors also change gradually in the same place with the passage of time with changing attitudes, values, and life -style of people.