Personalization of house entrances in urban low-income settlements with reference to family background: a case study in Swarna Place, Colombo

Abstract

Entrances of low-income houses express families’ social and cultural identities as well as their spatial preferences. Even within standardized government housing schemes, residents personalize their entrances to reflect individuality. However, limited research has examined how this personalisation is related to family background and socio-cultural context in urban low-income housing. Addressing this gap, the present study aims to investigate how entrance personalization in a government-provided low-rise housing scheme, located within a larger low-income settlement in Swarna Place, Colombo, corresponds to family background. Based on literature on low-income housing and family spatial behavior, the study identified spatial layout, volume, materials, roof form, and landscape elements as key physical parameters influencing entrance character. Family income and occupation were used to determine socio-economic background. Ten houses were analyzed through onsite measurements, observations, and photographic documentation, supported by semi-structured interviews and video recordings. Architectural and user analyses showed that families with higher income and occupational levels created more refined spatial connections and finishes, while those with lower levels showed abrupt, improvised adaptations. Across all cases, socio-cultural identity was expressed through religious and cultural symbols. The findings indicate that while entrance personalization reflects family background, shared cultural patterns persist across socio-economic groups, highlighting the need for design frameworks that support personalization while sustaining collective identity.