Think Infrastructure: start with a wall A step-by-step low ...€¦ · 1 Think Infrastructure:...
7
1 Think Infrastructure: start with a wall A step-by-step low cost housing approach Athina Stefani 1 , Dipl.-Ing. Nicole Baron 2 , Prof.Dr.-Ing. Dirk Donath 3 , Dipl.-Ing. Lukas Veltruský 4 1 Bauhaus-University Weimar, Belvederer Allee 1, [email protected] 2 Bauhaus-University Weimar, Belvederer Allee 1, [email protected] 3 Bauhaus-University Weimar, Belvederer Allee 1, [email protected] 4 Bauhaus-University Weimar, Belvederer Allee 1, [email protected] ABSTRACT Housing is one of the basic necessities for human survival. The unpredictable nature of economic development and rapid population growth of most of the emerging countries makes effective and efficient housing delivery difficult for governments, leaving the right of their residents to housing unsatisfied. Creating affordable living spaces is seen as a political and economic issue, leading to discussions on economic measures to relieve it, but there are solutions offered by architects and urban planners, that take factors such as construction, density, land use, infrastructure into account. In this paper, the authors introduce a low-cost approach to housing in the context of developing countries, taking Ethiopia as a case study, with the goal of encouraging diversity, promoting local materials and manufacturing as well as keeping construction and maintenance costs low. A starting point for the implementation of a low-cost housing concept, is the vast capacity of slum inhabitants
Transcript of Think Infrastructure: start with a wall A step-by-step low ...€¦ · 1 Think Infrastructure:...
1
ThinkInfrastructure:startwithawallAstep-by-steplowcosthousingapproach
AthinaStefani1,Dipl.-Ing.NicoleBaron2,Prof.Dr.-Ing.DirkDonath3,Dipl.-Ing.LukasVeltruský4
1Bauhaus-UniversityWeimar,BelvedererAllee1,[email protected],BelvedererAllee1,[email protected],BelvedererAllee1,[email protected]
4Bauhaus-UniversityWeimar,BelvedererAllee1,[email protected]
ABSTRACT
Housingisoneofthebasicnecessitiesforhumansurvival.Theunpredictablenatureofeconomicdevelopmentandrapidpopulationgrowthofmostoftheemergingcountriesmakeseffectiveandefficienthousingdeliverydifficultforgovernments,leavingtherightoftheirresidentstohousingunsatisfied.Creatingaffordablelivingspacesisseenasapoliticalandeconomicissue,leadingtodiscussionsoneconomicmeasurestorelieveit,buttherearesolutionsofferedbyarchitectsandurbanplanners,thattakefactorssuchasconstruction,density,landuse,infrastructureintoaccount.Inthispaper,theauthorsintroducealow-costapproachtohousinginthecontextofdevelopingcountries,takingEthiopiaasacasestudy,withthegoalofencouragingdiversity,promotinglocalmaterialsandmanufacturingaswellaskeepingconstructionandmaintenancecostslow.Astartingpointfortheimplementationofalow-costhousingconcept,isthevastcapacityofsluminhabitants
2
toprovidethemselveswiththeirdwellingspacewithintheformalframeworksofsociety.Themainelementof the concept proposed, is a “lifelinewall” containing all basic amenities necessary for amodern livingstandard(waterandwastewater,aswellaselectricity).Housesaresimplypluggedintothewallandcanbeexpandedincrementally.Theapproachofthe“lifelinewall”representsaninnovativeandsolution-orientedadvanceatthequestions:Howcananarchitecturalapproachthatintegratesinfrastructurecontributetotheimplementationofadaptiveandlow-costhousingindevelopingcountries?Whatimpactdolocalmaterials,appropriate technologies, and participation have and how can one incorporate these into a planningmethodology?
KEYWORDS
slumupgrading,low-costhousing,infrastructure,participation,Ethiopia
AUTHORBIOGRAPHY:AthinaStefaniwasborninGreeceandstudiedarchitectureandcityplanninginEnglandandGermany.NicoleBaronhasworkedinGermanyandSwitzerlandasanarchitectandiscurrentlylecturerandPHDstudentatBauhaus-UniversityWeimar.DirkDonathisaGermanarchitectandprofessorforInformaticsinArchitectureintheBauhaus-UniversityinWeimarandattheEthiopianInstituteofArchitecture,BuildingConstructionandCityDevelopmentinAddisAbaba.LukasVeltruskyisagermanandswisseducatedarchitect,exhibitiondesignerandresearcher.
Introduction
Nowadays,weliveinthemostrapidandintenseurbanizationperiodintheworld’shistory.Overhalfoftheworld’spopulationisalreadyurbananditisanticipatedthatuptotwo-thirdswillliveinurbanareasby20501.EthiopiaisoneoftheleasturbanizedcountriesinAfricawithaconstantlyincreasingnumberofpeoplelivingincities.Thisurbanizationrate,notinthesametrackwiththeeconomicgrowthofthecountryisleadingtotheincreaseofthenumberofurbanpoor.Thisurbanizationofpovertyhasasaresultthesquattingoflandincitiesandtheiroutskirts2.Theurbanslumpopulationisdoubledevery15yearswhatresultstopoorlivingconditionsandthesocialandspatialchallengesposedbythese.LiteraturediffersontheamountofslumdwellersresidingintheneighborhoodsofAddisAbaba.Accordingtotheavailableliteraturebetween70and100percentofurbanneighborhoodsinAddisAbabaarecharacterizedbythelackofbasicamenities,suchasroads,electricity,water,sewagesystemandadequatespace3.Thehousesintheseareoftenconstructedwithlowqualitymaterialsandatatearingbuildingspeed,oftenovernight-socalledmoonshinehouses.Theseself-organizeddwellingsexpressthetremendouspotentialoftheirinhabitantsregardingconstructionskills,knowledgeoflocalmaterialsandbuildingtechniques.Neverthelesslifequalityinthesesquattersettlementsislow.Byoverlookingbuildingstandards,rulesandregulations,safetyandhealthofpeoplelivinginthesehousesisputindanger.Thereisneedforaplanningstrategythatcanmeetinaneffectivewaythechallengesposedbysuchanarchitecturebornofnecessity.
Existingsolutions
Therearedifferentapproachestoaddressingtheproblemofinformalsettlements.Inordertocopewithinformality,poorqualityofexistinggovernmentownedrentalhousingstock-socalledkebelehouses-andthehousingdeficitposedbytheurbanexpansion,theEthiopiangovernmentlaunchesin2006theIntegratedHousingDevelopmentProgram(IHDP)accordingtowhich,allinformalsettlementsaretobedemolishedwithintenyearsandEthiopiaistoheadforamiddle-incomestatusby2025.TheIHDPusesthecondominiumtypology-mostlyintheperipheryofthecity-multistorydwellingsinwhichthereisdistinguishableownershipofsingleunitsandsharedownershipofcommunalareas.Thefreeholdistheradicalapproachofthisprogramincomparisontokebelehouses,butthesocialconnectionbetweenthehouseholdsincondominiumsisfragmentedcomparedtoopenneighborhoods.Since2013adepositisrequiredinordertoenterthecomputerlotterysystem-throughwhichthehousingunitsareallocated-leadingtotheexclusionofthelow-incomepopulationgroupthatcannotevenpaythecostsforpublicservices,suchaswater,electricityorgarbage
1accordingtoWorldUrbanizationProspects:The2014Revision.2AccordingtoUNReportAddisAbabaUrbanProfile20083SeeFormalizationandinformalizationprocessesinurbanEthiopia:incorporatinginformality2010
3
removal.Thecostsarenottheonlyaspectofthismodusoperandithatmakeithardforlow-incomepeopletoidentifywithit.Theownerscannotexpandaccordingtotheirneeds,havingtoadjusttoastrictbuildingtypologyanditisoftenhardtomakealivingfromtheeconomicactivitiesintheareaduetoevictionandrandomhousingallocation.Itisclearthatthereisstillneedforacomprehensiveurbanhousingdevelopmentplanningtoolinthecountry.
Needforanalternativeapproach
Suchaplanningtoolshouldtakethreeimportantaspectsintoconsideration:infrastructure,localmaterialsandparticipationbykeepingthecostslowatthesametime.Infrastructure,heremainlyreferringtosanitationandelectricity,isoneofthemainthingsthatslumdwellerscannotprovidethemselveswithandwhatsignificantlydeteriorateslifeconditionswhenmissing.Localmaterialsareeasilyavailableatlittleornocostandpeoplearemostlyfamiliarwiththeappropriatebuildingtechnologiesrequiredwhenworkingwithindigenousresources.Materialssuchasnaturalstone,loambricksandmudconstructionareidealfortheclimaticconditionsofthecountryandthussustainableandresilient.Participationcanenhancetheeffectivityofslumupgradingprojects,createasenseofindividualresponsibilityoverone’sownspaceandstrengthencommunitytiesbyengagingpeopleincommonactivities.Participationofinhabitantsduringthebuildingprocedureisaneducationalexperiencethatcanprovideunskilledworkerswithvocationaltraining.Theapproachneededshouldactasanurbanframework,bydiscouraginginfinitehorizontaldevelopment-commonpracticeforslumdwellersoriginatingfromlackoftechnicalknow-howanduseofappropriatematerials-andreconstructingpublicspaces.Buthowisitevenpossibletoencouragesuchdiversitybykeepingfinancialcostslow?Theself-promotionalattitudethatthelow-incomepartofthepopulationhasadoptedbydevelopingtheirowndwellingspaceisanimportantcontributiontolow-costarchitecture.Peoplealreadyhavetheabilitytoimplementtraditionalbuildingtechniquesanduseindigenousresources,theyshouldbeenabledtodosowithintheformalframeworkofsociety.Astartingpointfortheimplementationofsuchahousingprojectneededcouldbethefundamentalelementofeveryprospectivehouse,awall.
TheLifelineWall
A“lifelinewall”thatcontainsthenecessaryinfrastructure:water,wastewaterandelectricityisbothanarchitecturalelementandanurbantool.Asanarchitecturalelementitisthefirstwallofafuturehouse,providingbothstructureandframingspace.Itsupportstheweightofprospectivefloorsandroofsandsignifiesthebordersofeveryproperty.Asanurbantoolthe“lifelinewall”framespublicspace,directspedestrianflowandformsthefacadeofastreet.Dwellingscanplugintoitovertime,temporaryshelters,tentsandvendortablesaredockingintoit.Incrementalgrowthcanfillthespace,whileverticaldensityisencouraged.Butwouldn’tjustanywallasaformoficonicarchitecturebeenoughtoinitiateurbanupgrading?Whyisintegratedinfrastructuresuchanimportantpartofthisapproach?
Failuretoprovidebasicservicesforacontemporarylivingstandard,suchassanitationleadstoanincreaseinhealthdeteriorationandsocialunrest.Amainreasonforanunsuccessfulseweragesystemisthemagnificationinhousingdensityandresultinghigherlevelsofwaterconsumption.The“lifelinewall”ensuresthatthereiscontrolleddensityintheurbanlayoutandthatsufficientplotareastoaccommodatetheinfiltrationsystem,thusallowingasatisfactoryleveloftheservice.Alsosewernetworksareoftendamagedbytheexposureofthepipesduetosoilerosion.Actingasacaseforthesewerpipes,the“lifelinewall”guaranteesthattheywouldnotbeaffectedbyclimaticfactors,suchaserosionorflood.Thewallalsoreducesconnectioncoststhatwouldappearinaconventionalseweragesystem.Costsareminimizedbyincorporatingtheseweragesysteminthe“lifelinewall”astheownersdonothavetoconnecttheirappliancestoacollectorsewerdownthemainhighway,acommonpracticethathidesadditionalcosts.Sonotonlythereislittleimposedloading,butareductionofasmuchas50%inpipelengthispossible.4Sincetheresponsibilityforthemaintenanceofthe“lifelinewall”canbetransferredtotheresidents,reductionsincapitalandoperationalcostsareconsiderable.ThetemperaturesinEthiopiaallowplumbingtobeinstalledinthewallwithoutcomplications.Everyhousecan
4.CompareSustainableSewerage:Guidelinesforcommunityschemes:thecloserthesewersystem’soutfallistothepropertiesserved,thecheaperthesystemwillbe.
4
haveaccesstofreshwaterandvendorsandvisitorsareprofitingfromthepublicwatertabs.
Upgradingofexistingneighborhoodsintheinnercitiescanbelikethis:initialmeetingtoprovideinformationofthehousingupgradingtothelocalresidents,detailedlayout,locationofseweraccesspoints,locationofthe“lifelinewall”,implementationschedules,detailedcosts,maintenanceresponsibilitiesandgroupcontributionstotheconstructioncostaretobediscussedalongwithateamoflocalplanners.Whenapartisbuilt,dwellerscanstartconnectingtheirhouses.Bybuildingthe“lifelinewall”undersupervisionconstructiontechniquesarelearnedandknowledgeofmaterialsisspread.The“lifelinewall”isbuiltasitgoes,upgradingtheroadnetworksanddirectingpedestrianflow.Benches,openings,flowerpotsareextrudingoutofthe“lifelinewall”,itisservingasurbanfurniture.Microbusinessesaredockingintoitandtradeisflourishing.Thewalkabilityofthe“lifelinewall”suggestsanewwayofexperiencingandunderstandingpublicspace.Ofcourse,alltheseideasofmutualaid,self-helpconstruction,gradualhouseupgrading,progressivedevelopmentthatthe“lifelinewall”encourages,arenotnew.Theyarederivedfromthepracticesoftheslumdwellers.
Conclusion
Thecomplexanddiversechallengespresentedbyinformalsettlementsindicatetheneedforasupportstrategyfortheslumdwellers.Ratherthanofferingpeopleready-madesolutionstovitallyupgradetheirsettlements,thereistimeforenhancingtheiractiveparticipationinplanningandconstructingadequatehousingandinafurtherstep,theirlives.The“lifelinewall”emergesasaplayground,notonlyforplannersandarchitects,butallowslow-incomepeopletotakecontroloftheirlivesandimprovetheircurrentsituation.Intheenditisnotonlytheimageofthecitythatcanchange,butthesenseofhomeisbecomingsomethingsolidfortheslumdwellers.Yes,wallscanconnect.
Acknowledgement
TheauthorsthankLoïcBernetandFranziskaBertholdforconceptualizinganddesigningtheLifelineWall,ithasbeenagreatjourneysofar!AlsoourgratitudegoestoSarahAbdulhafizYusuf,withherhelpandsupportweallwentonestepfurther.
ReferencesUNDepartmentofEconomicandsocialAffairs:WorldUrbanizationProspects:The2014RevisionUNHabitat:AddisAbabaUrbanProfile2008Fransen,Jan;Samson,Kassahun;VanDijk,MeinePieter:FormalizationandInformalizationProcessesinUrbanEthiopia:IncorporatingInformality,NL:2010Reed,RA:SustainableSewerage:Guidelinesforcommunityschemes,UK:1995GraphicWork,Images
AllillustrationsbyAthinaStefani2015-2016.
5
6
7
