Reflecting on the Inclusivity of Culture in Urban Housing Development—A Case Study of Communal Residential Units in Durban

Abstract

The post-1994 era saw a transferring of culture and cultural practices within the built environment of hostels living and lifestyle through urbanization. During the apartheid era, black people were exposed to two types of housing typology: one which allowed them to practice their culture freely and the other which limited them in all aspects. Housing in rural areas allowed black people to practice their culture freely through its house-form layout, whereas housing in urban areas presented limitations and restricted all forms of cultural practices. The study aims at establishing and assessing whether communal residential units (CRUs) are responsive to cultural needs, norms and practices. To achieve this mandate, information was gathered through primary and secondary data collection methods. Quantitative information was gathered through household surveys and focus group discussions conducted in Wema (Umlazi Unit 17) as well as with key informants from eThekwini Municipality. The study used Durkheim’s human behavioural theory as a framework for analysing in trying to establish the linkage between culture and housing in CRUs. This research revealed that post-1994 housing especially the CRUs does not take into cognisance households’ cultural values. This is reflected in the nature of housing which is not free-standing while certain facilities within and outside the units are shared, thereby depriving households of privacy. However, the study also established that there are people who value the ease and convenience of single living and temporary housing depending on economy and their family’s financial need. The study recommended that the government should incorporate an environment that is supportive of culture and family living while also supportive of those who seek housing on short-term tenure.