Overcrowding and Adequate Housing: The Potential of Adaptability

Authors: Inês Ramalhete, Hugo Farias, Rui da Silva Pinto

Abstract:

Adequate housing has been a widely discussed theme in academic circles related to low-cost housing, whereas its physical features are easy to deal with, overcrowding (related to social, cultural and economic aspects) is still ambiguous, particularly regarding the set of indicators that can accurately reflect and measure it. This paper develops research on low-cost housing models for developing countries and what is the best method to embed overcrowding as an important parameter for adaptability. A critical review of international overcrowding indicators and their application in two developing countries, Cape Verde and Angola, is presented. The several rationales and the constraints for an accurate assessment of overcrowding are considered, namely baseline data (statistics), which can induce misjudgments, as well as social and cultural factors (such as personal choices of residents). This paper proposes a way to tackle overcrowding through housing adaptability, considering factors such as physical flexibility, functional ambiguity, and incremental expansion schemes. Moreover, a case-study is presented to establish a framework for the theoretical application of the proposed approach.

Keywords: Adaptive housing, low-cost housing, overcrowding.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.2363318

References:

[1] O. Golubchikov and A. Badyina, “Sustainable Housing for Sustainable Cities: a policy framework for developing countries,” UN-HABITAT, Nairobi, 2012.
[2] J. Bredenoord, P. V. Lindert, and P. Smets, Affordable Housing in the Urban Global South: Seeking Sustainable Solutions. Routledge, 2014.
[3] Asian Development Bank, “Technical Assistance 7148-IND - India: Promoting Inclusive Urban Development in Indian Cities,” Asian Development Bank, Mandaluyong, Phillipines, Technical Assistance, 2013.
[4] J. Madge, “Housing social aspects,” Int. Encycl. Soc. Sci., vol. 6, pp. 516–521, 1968.
[5] R. Akhtar, Health and disease in tropical Africa. Ohio: CRC Press, 1987.
[6] D. Goux and E. Maurin, “The effect of overcrowded housing on children’s performance at school,” J. Public Econ., vol. 89, no. 5–6, pp. 797–819, Jun. 2005.
[7] R. Barnett and S. Lowe, “Measuring housing need and the provision of social housing,” Hous. Stud., vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 184–194, Jul. 1990.
[8] W. Mesthrige Jayantha and S. S. Y. Lau, “Floor Space per Person and Housing Development: An Urban Growth Approach to Estimate Housing Supply in Hong Kong,” Urban Policy Res., vol. 26, no. 2, pp. 177–195, Jun. 2008.
[9] P. S. Morrison, “Housing occupancy and the changing size of households and dwellings in New Zeland,” New Zeland Popul. Rev., vol. 20, no. 1&2, pp. 69–100, 1994.
[10] R. Karmel, Housing assistance: reports on measurement and data issues / edited by Rosemary Karmel. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 1998.
[11] UN-HABITAT, “Urban Inequities Survey Manual (Adapted from Demographic and Health Survey and Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey),” United Nations, Nairobi, 2006.
[12] Department of Economic and Social Affairs - Population Division, Charting The Progress of Populations - ST/ESA/SER.R/151. New York: United Nations, 2000.
[13] World Health Organization, “Overcrowding.” WHO World Health Organization.
[14] E.-J. Pader, “Spatial Relations and Housing Policy: Regulations that Discriminate Against Mexican-origin Households,” J. Plan. Educ. Res., vol. 13, no. 2, pp. 119–135, Jan. 1994.
[15] M. Mikelsons and K. Eschbach, “Housing Problems and Needs of Native Hawaiians,” Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R) - U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development, Houston, 1996.
[16] K. S. Blake, R. L. Kellerson, and A. Simic, “Measuring Overcrowding in Housing,” U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development - Office of Policy Development and Research, Fairfax, Virginia, 2007.
[17] A. Gray, Definitions of Crowding and the Effects of Crowding on Health: A Literature Review, 1st ed. Wellington, New Zeland: Ministry of social Policy, 2001.
[18] P. H. C. de Lauwe, Famille et habitation. Paris: Centre nationale de la recherche scientifique, 1959.
[19] J. B. Pedro, Programa Habitacional: Habitação, 5th ed., vol. ITA 5. Lisboa: Laboratório Nacional de Engenharia Civil, 2002.
[20] Office of the Registrar General & Census Comissioner, India - Ministry of Home Affairs, “Census 2011 - HH-01 Normal Households by Household Size.” Government of India, 2011.
[21] A. Syukizal, W. Hafidz, and G. Sauter, “Reconstructing Life After the Tsunami: The work of Uplink Banda Aceh in Indonesia,” International Institute for Environment and Development, 2009.
[22] CDC - Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, “Assessment of Health-Related Needs After Tsunami and Earthquake - Three Districts, Aceh Province, Indonesia, July-August 2005.” CDC - Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, 2006.
[23] GEOTPU - Universidade Nova de Lisboa, “Relatório 2: Visão e Cenários de Desenvolvimento - Ambiente, Património, Sustentabilidade, Habitação e Infra-estrutura Social,” Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Caparica, 2014.
[24] INE Instituto Nacional de Estatística, “Distribuição percentual da estrutura do agregado familiar por Tipo de Núcleo e Área de Residência.” INE Instituto Nacional de Estatística, 2010.
[25] Instituto Nacional de Estatística de Cabo Verde, “Tamanho médio do agregado familiar.” Instituto Nacional de Estatística de Cabo Verde, 2016.
[26] A. Friedman, The Adaptable House: Designing Homes for Change, 1 edition. McGraw-Hill Education, 2002.
[27] R. Koolhaas and B. Mau, S M L XL, 2nd edition. New York: Monacelli Press, 1997.
[28] A. L. S. de A. e Paiva, “Habitação Flexivel: Análise de conceitos e soluções,” Dissertação para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Arquitectura da Habitação pela FA/UTL, Faculdade de Arquitectura da Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, Lisboa, 2002.
[29] M. Benston, “The Political Economy of Women’s Liberation,” Mon. Rev., vol. 21, no. 4, p. 13, Sep. 1969.
[30] A. Bourdin, Urbanismo depois da crise. Lisboa: Livros Horizonte Lda., 2011.
[31] A. Oliveira, A Casa Compreensiva: um percurso sobre a concepção arquitectónica das tipologias de habitação, 1st ed. Casal de Cambra: Caleidoscópio, 2015.
[32] H. Hertzberger, Lessons for Students in Architecture. 010 Publishers, 2001.
[33] G. Maccreanor, “Adaptability,” Hous. Flex., vol. I, no. 12, 1998.
[34] M. Eleb-Vidal, A. M. Chatelet, and T. Mandoul, Penser l’habité. Le logement en questions, 2e éd. Liège: MARDAGA, 1995.
[35] A. Aravena and A. Iacobelli, Elemental: Incremental Housing and Participatory Design Manual. Berlim: Hatje Cantz, 2013.
[36] I. Blasi and A. S. Giralt, Eds., EU Prize for Contemporary Architecture - Mies Van Der Rohe Award 2017. Barcelona: Fundació Mies van der Rohe, 2017.