Exploring community collective decision-making process for incremental spatial modifications in underserved settlements: a case study of Pollwatta, Koralawella, Sri Lanka

Abstract

This research explores the community decision-making process in an underserved settlement, with special reference to Pollwatta, Koralawella, focusing on how residents collectively address challenges through incremental spatial modifications and provision for expansions. Despite extensive research on informal housing, little is known about how communities decide to modify and expand their homes over time. This study addresses that gap by examining the social and spatial dynamics of community-led decision-making in an underserved settlement. It highlights the need to understand these local processes as essential for creating more inclusive and adaptable housing strategies. Through literature, house layout, spatial usage, and provisions for expansions were selected as the physical parameters affecting the incremental spatial modifications of the dwelling spaces. The selected decision-making parameters include social profile, reason for decision-making, time taken, and actors involved. In Pollwatta, five houses with incremental spatial modifications were selected for the study. House plans and spatial data were collected through onsite measurements, observations, and photographic recordings. Families’ details, needs, spatial usage data, and knowledge of incremental spatial modifications and the collective decision-making process were gathered through observations, semi-structured interviews, interactive workshops, and visual documentation. Spatial analysis identified house characteristics and incremental spatial modifications, while social data analysis examined community knowledge of these modifications and the collective decision-making process. Research outcomes include detailed mapping of the incremental spatial modifications and the community’s decision-making process. The research found that families apply a community decision-making process, referencing house layout, spatial usage, and provision for modifications, when implementing incremental spatial modifications. Findings highlight that socio-cultural and economic factors influence this process over time and that the community actively participates in the decision-making process to facilitate incremental modifications.