From commodity to place : a study of the process of "Making Home" in developer-oriented housing in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Home is one of the fundamental needs of man. There is a deep rooted attachment between man and his home as the institution where family is matured. It reflect people's values, aspirations and future expectations and their social cultural identity. It is also considered that home consists of the history and memories 0f the family. It is a store house for the physical, social, psychological or emotional wealth of its occupants. Home making is a fundamental human activity. Which anchors man to his place on earth. Due to the industrialization and other various complexities of today's life the easiest and best way is to buy a house available. which is constructed by developers. These developer - oriented houses are mostly typified and catering to the utilitarian needs of people such as habitable space shelter. And it has become another commodity which caters to the supply and demand conditions prevailing in the market. It has been identified as a very profitable and attractive business today. Yet in many occasions these have failed to enable meaningful homes as house developers (mostly private developers ) prime aim is profit oriented. They sell the idea of home with a materialistic illusion . where is in terms of finishes, services and facilities provided an not considering a environment needed for psychological well being of man. Thus the significance of the concept of home and its making process should be understood and sufficiently applied and highlighted to be able to interpret it in terms of development process in the developer - oriented housing