Abstract
Transformations have led to questionable environmental qualities in housing neighbourhoods. Urban areas in Africa, and Kenya in particular are faced with an increased growth of planned settlements transforming into unplanned housing units. Most researches on housing transformations have concentrated on the dwelling units but little has been done on other aspects such as social amenities. The study therefore draws attention to this neglected aspect of transformation in housing and the reactions of dwellers towards the same. Buru Buru in Nairobi city formed the location of the empirical study. The study assessed user satisfaction following transformations of social amenities in Buruburu Estate, Nairobi City County. Data was collected using interview schedules from respondents drawn from residents and architects responsible for the transformation. Qualitative and quantitative data that used various techniques including structured interviews, digital photography and analyses of archival drawings and satellite maps were analysed using both qualitative and quantitative techniques. The findings showed that the user were very unsatisfied with the different social amenities in the estate. The conclusion was that social amenities should be developed at the beginning of the scheme. The study recommends inclusion of a possible model and clarification on the roles that professionals, developers and authorities need to play in any housing development in order to mitigate the phenomenon.
Highlights
Tools Data typeThe researcher studied Satellite maps, aerial photographs and consultants' drawings. They shed light on the social amenities that the designer had incorporated in the design and the transformations that had emerged
1.1 Background Shelter being a human need is viewed as an important component of adequate standard of living in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 and reaffirmed by subsequent international instruments
5.3 Recommendations The study avers that there is need for developers to be guided by set out laws and regulations and makes the following recommendations for developers, professionals and authorities at both neighbourhood and typological levels: 5.3.1 Neighbourhood level Proposed model of Buru Buru: The following is a proposed model for Buru Buru estate
Summary
The researcher studied Satellite maps, aerial photographs and consultants' drawings. They shed light on the social amenities that the designer had incorporated in the design and the transformations that had emerged. Observation technique was used in data collection to compare the original drawing with the current use of space in terms of activities, displays and the built forms. This incorporated both the physical observation for documentation of the existing situation and mapping the transformations through identifying the key changes. The interviewees were selected from residents of Buru Buru estate who had lived there for over twenty years These were, in most cases, people who had witnessed the transformations as they unfolded and had a lot of qualitative data at their disposal.
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