Low-cost Housing Research Articles

Experiencias del programa de viviendas hogar de cristo en sectoresVulnerables de la costa ecuatoriana

The objective of this article is to present the results of the study conducted on the vulnerable population of the Ecuadorian coast in the development of the low-cost housing project by the Hogar de Cristo Foundation. The main characteristic of this project is the housing project sponsored by the organization Casas del Hogar de Cristo. in the restoration of the Right to have a roof that many families because of poverty and its limitations do not access this Fundamental Righting order to analyze this problem, it is necessary to mention that one of the main causes is unemployment, although those people who generate little income do not have a fixed job, it should be emphasized that these incomes are lower than the basic salary which allows them to subsist without accessing many cases to education, health, in itself to a healthy life. The analysis of this social problem was conducted with the interest of knowing the living conditions and mainly the restrictions of those families on housing issues from the perspective of social assistance for those groups of vulnerable people.

Appraising alternative building technologies adoption in low-cost housing provision to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 11

PurposeThough alternative building technologies (ABTs) have been encouraged to address accessible and affordable issues in low-cost housing (LCH) provision, their adoption is still overwhelmed with encumbrances. The encumbrances that hinder ABT adoption require an in-depth study, especially in developing countries like Nigeria. However, studies regarding ABT and its role in improving Nigeria's LCH to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11 are scarce. This research investigates encumbrances to ABT adoption in Nigeria's LCH provision and suggests feasible measures to prevent or reduce the encumbrances, thereby improving achieving SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities).Design/methodology/approachThis research utilised qualitative research and adopted a face-to-face interview as the primary data collection. The interviewees comprised ABT practitioners and end users in Nigeria who were chosen by a convenient sampling technique. The study's data were analysed manually through a thematic approach.FindingsThis study shows that stakeholders should embrace ABT in LCH provision to improve achieving SDG 11 in Nigeria. Also, it clustered the perceived 20 encumbrances to ABT adoption in LCH provision into government/policymaker, housing developers/building contractors, ABT users and ABT manufacturers-related issues in Nigeria's context. This study suggested mechanisms to mitigate encumbrances to ABT adoption in LCH provision, thereby improving achieving SDG 11.Originality/valueThis research adds to the limited literature by analysing ABT adoption encumbrances in Nigeria's LCH provision, which could assist policy formulation for the uptake of ABT in LCH provision and improve achieving Goal 11.

An Analysis on Building Orientation and Occupants Satisfaction in Malaysia Low-Cost Housing

Thermal comfort is an important factor in ensuring a house's good thermal condition, affecting people’s productivity. People spend almost 90% of their time inside the house than outside. Since most people spend most of their time indoors, there is constant and complex contact between the inhabitants and their surroundings, affecting them physiologically and psychologically. Therefore, the thermal comfort in a residential building must be considered carefully. Several thermal comfort parameters need to be measured to understand the current indoor thermal situation of typical low-cost single-storey detached houses in Malaysia. This paper aims to identify the effects of the thermal comfort condition and orientation towards occupants’ satisfaction in low-cost detached houses. The research objective was achieved through questionnaire survey distribution to the respondents in low-cost detached houses in Bachok, Kelantan. Questionnaire survey has been distributed to occupants with different housing orientations: north, east, south, and west. A five-point Likert scale questionnaire was distributed face-to-face to 280 respondents occupying low-cost detached houses, and 233 (83%) were returned. The data gathered from the questionnaire were analysed using SPSS version 23. The finding on the occupants’ satisfaction towards thermal comfort condition indicates that their satisfaction depends on the orientation of the house and result for the last objective. There is a relationship between thermal comfort condition, building orientation, and occupants’ satisfaction. However, there is still a lack of research on the building orientation towards occupants’ satisfaction. Finally, it is hoped that this research can contribute to the thermal comfort knowledge, especially focusing on the occupants in low-cost housing.

LEED and BREEAM Green Building Certification Systems as Possible Game Changers in Attaining Low-Cost Energy-Efficient Urban Housing Projects

LEED and BREEAM Green Building Certification Systems as Possible Game Changers in Attaining Low-Cost Energy-Efficient Urban Housing Projects

Assessment of Spatial Patterns of Backyard Shacks Using Landscape Metrics

Urban informality in developing economies like South Africa takes two forms: freestanding shacks are built in informal settlements, and backyard shacks are built in the yard of a formal house. The latter is evident in established townships around South African cities. In contrast to freestanding shacks, the number of backyard shacks has increased significantly in recent years. The study assessed the spatial patterns of backyard shacks in a formal settlement containing low-cost government houses (LCHs) using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) products and landscape metrics. The backyard shacks were mapped using Object-Based Image Analysis (OBIA), which uses height information, vegetation index, and radiometric values. We assessed the effectiveness of rule-based and Random Forest (RF) OBIA techniques in detecting formal and informal structures. Informal structures were further classified as backyard shacks using spatial analysis. The spatial patterns of backyard shacks were assessed using eight shapes, aggregation, and landscape metrics. The analysis of the shape metrics shows that the backyard shacks are primarily square, as confirmed by a higher shape index value and a lower fractional dimension index value. The contiguity index of backyard shack patches is 0.6. The values of the shape metrics of backyard shacks were almost the same as those of formal and informal dwelling structures. The values of the assessed aggregation metrics of backyard shacks were more distinct from formal and informal structures compared with the shape metrics. The aggregation metrics show that the backyard shacks are less connected, less dense, and more isolated from each other compared with formal and freestanding shacks. The Shannon’s Diversity Index and Simpson’s Evenness Index values of informal settlements and formal areas with backyard shacks are almost the same. The results achieved in this study can be used to understand and manage informality in formal settlements.

Satisfaction Level of Occupants’ for Low-Cost Housing in Malaysia

Satisfaction Level of Occupants’ for Low-Cost Housing in Malaysia

공공자가주택 개발이익 배분 효과 비교 연구

This study confirmed the effect of redeeming development gains from privately owned houses with public purpose and public sale houses by comparing the distribution ratio of development gains taken by the public and by individuals. Using the A2-1 block in Namyanrposegju’s Byeolnae district as a case site, the degree of distribution of development profits by each type is compared when the units are sold six years after moving in. As a result, the general type of public sale house (84.9%) is the type of housing for which the initial buyer takes more than 50% of the development profit, followed by the Newlyweds Hope Town B type (30% loan, 2 children) (73.4%), and the sharing type of public sale house (65%). The land leased house not only has minimal development gains taken by the initial buyer, but it is also likely that the original value of the building will be eroded due to increased depreciation costs over time. This study is meaningful as it can provide the basic data to compare the development gains distribution effects of the current intermediate housing model before developing various intermediate housing models that properly share development gains and continuously supply low-cost housing.

Charaterizing Payment Default of Low-Cost Housing Loans

This study aimed to develop a framework on factors affecting payment default in low-cost housing loans. A total of 462 low-cost housing loan borrowers have participated in the study. Adapted-modified research questionnaire and stratified random sampling technique were employed to gather data from participants. The Exploratory Factor Analysis, Frequency Distribution and Binary Logistic Regression analysis were utilized as statistical tools to analyze the data. It revealed that there were five factors that characterized payment default of low-cost housing loans namely, Loan Effects and Liquidity, Loan Monitoring, Quality or Level of Account Management, Saving Attitude, and Loan Sufficiency/Adequacy. Further, 60 percent of the borrowers are paying their loans on time, meanwhile, 40 percent were paying their loan or before the due date. Using binary logistic regression, the study concluded that loan effects and liquidity (0.005 < 0.05), and saving attitude (0.000 < 0.05), were found to significantly influence the payment default of borrowers.

Improving sustainability of affordable housing using innovative technologies: Case study of SIAH-Livable

Rapid urbanization presents a major challenge in achieving affordable and sustainable housing. In the face of the problem, rapid urbanisation represents, there is room for innovation. Advancements in sustainable design methods, new materials, and innovative building technologies offer potential solutions for developing sustainable, innovative, and affordable housing (SIAH). This study investigates various sustainable design techniques, materials, and technologies suitable for designing SIAH in the South African climate in concordance with local building codes and regulations. The study compares the building performance of SIAH-Livable, as assessed by energy embodied, energy demand, and water usage, with that of conventional low-cost housing using the EDGE Buildings App. The results validate that SIAH-Livable building performance is significantly less water and energy, reducing consumption by 55.17% and 21.06%, respectively. Additionally, SIAH-Livable exhibits a noTable 66.9% reduction in embodied energy levels while remaining within the construction cost range defined by the South African government for low-cost housing. Furthermore, the analysis confirms that appropriate design techniques, new materials, and technologies not only enhance the sustainability of the house but also improve its affordability by reducing lifecycle costs. The study concludes that sustainable design techniques, including passive design, the use of recycled and local materials, and socio-technical innovations, are effective means of enhancing the sustainability and affordability of housing, contributing to the development of SIAH. Importantly, this research establishes the association between sustainability and affordability in South African housing design, offering insights that can be adapted and applied to other African countries.

HOUSING AFFORDABILITY STRESS AMONG THE MIDDLE- INCOME (M40) GROUP IN JOHOR BAHRU

A house as a place of residence plays an important role towards sustainable development and in improving the wellbeing of the population. The issue of housing, especially the supply and demand of low and low-medium cost housing in cities, rising house prices, quality of housing as well as housing stress has shown that housing is a critical issue that must be addressed. Housing stress usually refers to financial constraints, the reason for the inability to manage the cost of home ownership and housing expenses. Yet financial burden is not the only factor that can contribute to housing stress. There are two types of housing stress, namely physical and emotional factors that may impact negatively on the lives of residents. This paper discusses the affordability housing stress among the middle-income group (M40) that may contribute to housing stress based on a survey of 100 residents of the M40 group in Johor Bahru. The paper discusses the ability of households to rent or buy a house by considering affordable prices, the ability to repay financing, and sufficient income to meet the basic needs of life and a household.

TOWARDS POVERTY ALLEVIATION FOR THE BASE OF PYRAMID: SOCIAL BUSINESS MODEL IN URBAN LOW-COST HOUSINGS

Purpose – this study investigates alternative a small-scale social business model that potentially generate sustainable income for households at the base of the pyramid. A comparison of two low-cost housings that have a different geographical condition and local characteristics is examined. Research methodology – this research adopted two-stage approach to address the research objective. A pairwise comparison was employed to evaluate alternatives based on selected criteria for decision-making. In the second stage, the proposed business model was assessed by taking into account investment, processing cost, and revenue. Findings – the findings of this research suggest suitable business model that combine profit orientation and facilitates social mission in urban settings. The business model offers attractive financial feasibility from the investor viewpoint and simultaneously engages low-income households to improve their prosperity level leaving the base of the pyramid (BOP) status. Research limitations – this paper is not involving division of responsibility between stakeholders in low-cost housing and BOP sector. This study also not discussed how social entrepreneurs play a role in the social business model. There is a need to further investigate how the impact of social entrepreneurs on this model and engage collaboration with interest parties to engage community development. Practical implications – the findings recommend strategies that can be used by policy-makers and other related stakeholders to scale-up the business model, empower more low-income households, and create new job opportunities for urban poor. The findings of this research also indicate social business model that enables households at the BOP to earn sustainable income and release their current poverty status. Originality/Value – the research is one of the few studies that explored alternatives to social business models available for urban poor by taking into account project feasibility. No previous research has been attempted to consider both pairwise comparison and life cycle cost approach in the development of social business models. This research can be found useful for those with similar issues not only in emerging economies but also in developed countries.

Investigation on structural behaviour of concrete sandwich beams with light weight composite and shear connectors

Due to rapid exhaustion of the natural resources required for building materials, there is a need in developing sustainable alternative materials. In recent years, research in the field of precast technology and lightweight structural members has been in progress. Composite Sandwich system generally consists of insulated core sandwiched between concrete wythes. The main objective of this project is to study the experimental and analytical response of Composite Sandwich Beam(CSB) under four-point flexural testing. Normally, the neutral axis of the beam has zero bending stress and shear force predominantly acts on the neutral axis. In order to reduce the usage of concrete materials and the self-weight of the beam, Expanded Polystyrene which tends to be light weight and insulated core is placed in the neutral axis portion. In order to make it much more sustainable, cement is also partially replaced by 10 % of its weight with fly ash. Truss shaped shear connectors are used which will increase the shear and ductile nature of CSB. In the analytical study, both conventional RCC and CSB are analysed and compared by using Finite Element Analysis (Ansys-APDL). Four-point flexural loading is applied on the beam specimens to assess its flexural strength experimentally. The effect of thickness of core, load–deflection curve and strain behaviour are discussed. The test results indicate that by the usage of Expanded Polystyrene as an interlayer, there is an 8.75% decrease in the total weight thereby reducing the material utilization. This leads to the development of composite material for structural beam applications without compromising its strength and it can be used in low-cost housing and green building.

Balkrishna Doshi’s Contribution to the Development of Contemporary Architecture in India

Balkrishna Doshi has more than 70 years as an architect contributing to hundreds of projects with the architectural firm he founded, Vāstu Shilpā Consultants, ranging from institutes, residences, art galleries, public spaces, and more. Doshi has also played a leading role as an educator, particularly in India. He founded the Vāstu Shilpā Foundation for Studies and Research in Environmental Design and the School of Architecture and Planning in Ahmedabad. With an understanding and appreciation of deep traditions in Indian character and architecture that he understood from childhood, regardless of local prefabrication and crafts, and developing a vocabulary that is in harmony with the history, culture, local traditions, and changing times in contemporary vernacular architecture in his home country, India.
 Keywords: Balkrishna Doshi, Contemporary Vernacular Architecture, Low-Cost Housing, India.

Gren “fuelled” by fire: lessons for project management

Learning outcomes The learning outcomes of this study are as follows: 1) illustrate the project management failures that contributed to the fire accident at Grenfell using a fishbone diagram; 2) identify and classify the power and influence of various stakeholders involved in a brownfield project using a relevant framework; and 3) elaborate the need for following effective stakeholder management processes and project leadership, especially in the context of a refurbishment/renovation project. Case overview/synopsis On 14th June 2017, the Grenfell Tower in North Kensington, West London, UK, caught fire. The fire raged for 60 h and around 72 people lost their lives. Many criticized the response of the London Fire Brigade (LFB) and their lack of preparedness to respond to such an emergency. There were calls for Dany Cotton, the Chief of LFB, to resign. However, there had been a major cladding-related refurbishment at Grenfell, and subsequent investigations revealed that the use of combustible materials, a lack of compliance with the fire-safety norms and a blatant disregard for resident safety had contributed to the fire. The tragedy was a cumulative outcome of failure on two counts: effective project management and stakeholder management during the process of refurbishment, especially in the context of a low-cost housing project. Given this situation, this case considers whether Dany Cotton should own up to her responsibility and resign from her position. In the process, the case considers Grenfell refurbishment from the theoretical lens of project management in the construction management scenario to understand the factors that could have led to an “avoidable” tragedy. Complexity academic level Postgraduate students of construction management; final year undergraduate engineering students who have a foundational course on project management; and architects. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 2: Built environment.

Vulnerability of Affordable Housing to Global Warming in South Africa: Case Study of a Masonry House in Johannesburg

Global warming is expected to lead to longer and more intense heatwaves, which will have negative environmental and socioeconomic impacts around the world. South Africa is projected to experience significant warming, with surface temperatures possibly increasing by up to 3 °C by mid-century. This warming trend has implications for architecture, as the demand for cooling in buildings could rise dramatically. However, socioeconomic conditions in developing countries may limit the use of air conditioning to mitigate indoor overheating. In South Africa, research has shown that government provided low-cost housing structures are thermally inefficient, with temperatures occasionally exceeding outdoor levels. Residents often rely on natural ventilation and personal actions to cope with heat. However, the effects of climate change may render these strategies insufficient if energy poverty and housing improvement are not addressed. This study aims to examine the impact of global warming on a high mass, naturally ventilated, affordable housing structure in Johannesburg, South Africa. Measured operative temperature data from a long-term experimental study, alongside adaptive temperature limits to evaluate overheating, highlight the vulnerability of indoor spaces without adequate insulation and/or thermal mass. The results underscore concerns about the performance of low-cost and affordable housing in warmer future climates in the South African interior.

Impact of Housing Microfinance on Socio-Economic Indicators: A Study of Prime Minister’s Low-Cost Housing Scheme in Pakistan

The objective of this paper is to check the impact of dividend policy and firm Housing Microfinance / Low-Cost Housing Scheme has been promoted to fill the national housing demand/supply gap in Pakistan in recent years. Prime Minister’s Low-Cost Housing Scheme (PM-LCHS) was introduced with the aim of providing financial assistance to poor and deserving families enabling raise in their living standards. A total of Rs. 8.54 billion has been disbursed so far through Akhuwat Islamic Microfinance. The study aims to empirically test the impact of PM-LCHS loan utilization on beneficiaries’ welfare in terms of socio-economic indicators. This research also proposes to assess governance and administrative efficiency and design effectiveness of the initiative The total population of 17, 344 beneficiaries is sampled using Proportionate Stratified Sampling; Group 1 (stratum 1) constitutes beneficiaries who are in utilization phase and Group 2 (stratum 2) constitutes beneficiaries who are repaying the loan post 100% loan utilization. The proposed frameworks are tested using data collected from 463 beneficiaries. Key findings show that PM-LCHS utilization improved sense of security, societal standing and psychological conditions of respondents. Moreover, the loan utilization has enhanced multiple components of sanitation conditions and housing infrastructure; yet the repayment amounts causing no negative impact on their financial wellbeing. However, PM-LCHS utilization is not found to have any effect on beneficiaries’ health. Furthermore, Akhuwat has administered PM-LCHS efficiently and beneficiaries are satisfied from its governance. Thus, any other financial institution interested in offering such a HMF initiative must have appropriate human resource and skillset to reach the eligible clientele and address their financial requirements like AIM. Though, respondents are satisfied from the scheme as a whole, the study elucidates concerns about some design elements, namely financing limit, repayment period and number of disbursement instalments. These findings again have policy implications for the institutions seeking to enter the HMF market; incorporate these results to formulate the HMF/LCHS product that better suit the financing needs of low-earning people. The originality of this study is theorizing and empirically testing the effect of Housing Microfinance/ Low-Cost Housing Scheme and analyzing the linkages between PMLCHS loan utilization and beneficiaries’ living standards and welfare in Pakistani context.

Natural Ventilation in Low-Cost Housing: An Evaluation by CFD

With the spread of sustainability concepts, due to the global energy crisis and the unrestrained consumption of natural resources, the importance of rational use and reduction of energy consumption has been intensified, albeit in short steps. This concern has taken up bioclimatic concepts in buildings, especially housing buildings for low-income people, aiming at improving the quality of housing production in terms of its habitability. The objective of this research is to theoretically and experimentally study the natural ventilation in a housing building, which fits into the low-cost pattern. The use of Computational Fluid Dynamics to predict natural ventilation was adopted as a tool to perform these analyses. Experiments were carried out by visiting the study area to collect data on air velocity, temperature, and relative humidity in all rooms of the residence in order to carry out the intended analyses. Computer simulation of natural ventilation considering the building with the doors and windows open and with fixed geometry was performed. Results proved that the proposed mathematical model was able to reproduce, with rich details and physical coherence, the internal and external air flow inside the building, indicating better internal ventilation performance in environments that have door and window openings, with recesses, revealing the importance of cross ventilation to reduce the internal temperature and consequent improvement in thermal comfort. The idea is to help civil engineers and specialists in the economically viable design of low-cost buildings from the economic, social, and thermal comfort points of view.

Utilising under-burnt waste bricks from kilns as supplementary cementitious material

The pozzolanic performance of crushed brick powder (CBP), obtained by grinding under-burnt waste bricks from a continuous brick kiln, is studied. Two size fractions of CBP considered for cement replacement are CBP1 (passes through 150 μm but is retained on 75 μm) and CBP2 (passes through 75 μm). Compressive strength tests on mortar with CBP reveal that strength does not exceed that of the control; however, 10–15% cement replacement by CBP is the optimum. The presence of hydrate phases by X-ray diffraction and quantification of portlandite in the paste samples as studied by thermogravimetric analysis up to 90 days confirms the action of pozzolanicity. Furthermore, to determine the feasibility of CBP1 and CBP2 fractions in concrete, the strength and carbonation of M25 grade concrete were studied by replacing 45% cement with a combined proportion of CBP1 (20%) and CBP2 (25%). This reduced the concrete grade from M25 to M20 and increased the accelerated carbonation depth. Nevertheless, the projected natural carbonation coefficient with accelerated carbonation data is determined as low. The CBP used is cost-effective, requiring little mechanical processing and no chemical activation; thus it can satisfactorily be used for low-cost housing construction and lower-grade structural and non-structural uses.

Application of non-degradable waste as building material for low-cost housing

Building material is one of the essential aspects in accommodating the supply and demand of low-cost housing in Indonesia. Recently, several researchers have devoted much time and effort to developing waste recycling for building materials since it is more ecologically benign, particularly for non-degradable waste. This article focuses on recycling disposable diaper waste as composite material for a structural and architectural component of the building based on Indonesian building standards. In addition to offering a broad perspective on the implementation of experimental findings, the design scenario comprised the construction of low-cost housing with a floorplan area of 36 m2. The experimental results indicate that disposable diapers waste to use as composite materials of the building has a maximum capacity of 10% for structural components and 40% for nonstructural and architectural components. The prototype housing also reveals that 1.73 m3 of disposable diaper waste can be decreased and utilised for a housing area of 36 m2.

Standard of workmanship, crime rate and condition of lift systems influence collective action in low-cost housing

PurposeUnder Malaysian Law, the maintenance and management of common property have traditionally been viewed as insoluble challenges in the self-organisational efforts for high-rise low-cost housing developments. As the population increases, more shared resources become heavily exploited with few willing to contribute towards the sustainability of resources. Many researchers argued a better way would be to convert these shared resources into a private or state-managed entity. Hence, with that assumption, this paper aims to examine how better physical characteristics can result in greater collective action.Design/methodology/approachThis research paper adopted a quantitative method approach to determine how the standard of physical characteristics influenced the quality of collective action in high-rise low-cost housing. The method included a questionnaire survey of 519 parcel holders chosen via stratified purposeful random sampling from four high-rise low-cost housing areas.FindingsThe paper found a positive correlation between the quality of physical characteristics and the collective action gained. The findings highlighted that the standard of workmanship of high-rise low-cost units (including the common properties), the crime rate in the neighbourhood and the condition of lift systems – when improved – were significant positive predictors of collective action.Practical implicationsHousing developers should pay attention to the quality of both low-cost units and related common properties, as this endeavour will assist greatly in future collective action management.Originality/valueThe study was justified in terms of its originality as few research studies adopted the social-ecological system framework that focused on the correlation between the quality of physical characteristics and the collective action of parcel holders.