8/20/2013

HOUSIN G
THE PROBLEM

SUBMITTED TO AR AMANJEET KAUR

Table of Contents
Hill housing ........................................................................ 3 Design ................................................................................... 8 Site and Landscape ...................................................... 15

Introduction
Housing The problem
Analysis

Housing project is difficult yet rewarding

brief for an architect to do. If single unit is a challenge then group of houses is a bigger

challenge. The book deals with analysis of hill housing from prehistory to contemporary years, touches various aspects and can be useful to layman as well as a professional.

Context
After World War II gradual rise in living standards was seen. Also there was steady economic growth which resulted in housing more people. The urban housing took new form i.e the high rise structures. The 1950-60s saw extensive high rise buildings in big towns as well as in small towns. Later, as the complications of living in high rise structures started, the low rise structures came into demand again.

Identity
The main reason which inclined the interest of people from high rise to low rise was that the tower blocks were creating serious social and

physical problems. The children were cut off from their peers and lacked social contact which was necessary for their initial years. Health of some families also deteriorated.

Hill housing
sites must be developed by intelligent & sensitive planning which can be achieved by keener perception by architects

Inherent advantages of hill housing

Human scale can be maintained. The proportions and integration with the existing development can be retained. Stepped dwellings on existing slopes are preferred with steeper

sites having higher population densities. Social problems of large blocks can be overcome by providing stepped housing and hence retaining privacy without loss of contact. Better land use- waste hill slopes are cheaper to purchase but building on sloping sites is expensive.

High rise structures are even more expensive.

The sub-structure costs are major element in deciding the overall cost. The development expenditure may be very high if design involves large retaining structures. Minimum damp proofing and

excavation is required if the units are supported above the ground level by the designed system.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
It is difficult to overcome this completely and it also involves high costs for complicated and high structures therefore it is advisable to design less sophisticated and low rise structures. Servicing of the dwellings is more direct and personal in hilly sites. Access roads can run parallel to slopes or designed down the slopes to relatively steep gradient.

 Car spaces can be sited in unobtrusive positions close to the individual dwellings. Identity maintained in hill housings.

Future possibilities
Hill housing is viable, practical and realistic form of many urban situations. Appropriate use of sensitively designed hill housing can do much to redeem lack of human scaled buildings and spaces.

Historical and Planning Background

Mountain systems include Maritime linear system and Inland Centralized system.

 Topography and Climate Unique, own climate and way of life Isolation and danger from elements Climatic extremes of heat and cold Problem of communications Access Building at hills is a problem drainage Climate important aspect of form generating forces Orientation builders of the past had excellent knowledge for dealing with climatic problems

Design
Design Factors

 They include Access, circulation and gradient

Routes and Site Access

Access and Circulation to and within site is largely influenced by location, topography and gradient. In the past, settlements are located in most mild and gentle areas available.

Gradient 1:1 to 1:3 1:3 to 1:5 1:5 to 1:10 Under 1:60

very steep steep strong gentle

Ramps and Steps 1:10 gradient is advisable for pedestrian ramps

 Rainwater drainage important especially in areas liable to frost and freezing temperature. Under floor heating is recommended but it is very costly Materials non-slip materials should be used and strong handrails should be provided Vehicles maximum gradient for the roads can be 1:6 Density it should be compact Elevators can be provided where height difference is too much Pedestrian Circulation hilly areas require more intensive footpath networks

 Terraces these can be provided along or against the hillside contours Stepped housing houses are built across the contours. Pedestrian routes go across contours provided that these are not too steep Deck systems they follow contours but are provided for very large projects Diagonal routes these are rare but obvious choice for pedestrian routes Clusters can be incorporated both along and against the contours

Transportation
Monorails good option as vehicles cannot be taken to all places Fire and Refuse fire exit routes must be provided as an integral part of overall circulation pattern. Refuse can be taken care by providing chutes and collecting it at a common point. Vehicular accessibility provision of cars should be unobtrusive and underground parking is one solution Length of Roads apparent length or steepness of road will influence the speed of vehicles.

 Detail the design details of access roads, paths, steps, etc. influence the site planning of blocks in a hilly site. Scale character of hill sites must always be respected

Design Concepts
Philosophy it is reflected in the way the architect responds to a particular set of challenges Realization the success or failure of hillside projects must meet aesthetic, social, and technical criteria.

Man and Nature after machine dominated society, now there is a reaction towards being more closely involved with nature and landscape

Design Examples
Different types and forms of hill housing include: 1. Individual hill houses 2. Hillside terraces 3. Stepped hill housing groups 4. Deck projects 5. Projects on diagonal in plan and/or section

6. Cluster concepts 7. Organically conceived projects

Site and Landscape

Site
Aspect and Prospect the problems related to direction of slope (aspect) are generally in conflict with the open view (prospect). The criteria to be considered include: Geographical location of site

 The form should be governed by degree of direct sunlight, extent of exposure, substructural difficulties and prospect Privacy and Personal Identity extent of privacy is influenced by physical arrangement of development and by the slope. Services drainage can be a common problem

Landscape: design It will depend on following:

1. Site geometry it will include structured, formal and organic solutions 2. Site, scale and silhouette 3. Landscape: Planning Context 4. Site selection depends on obtaining accurate information and surveys 5. Contours, geology and climate data can be in the form of contour maps, geological surveys and climatic records

Landscape: Slope Failure and Design

 Angle of Repose each soil type has its own particular angle of repose or stability 1. Very wet clay and silt: 1:3 2. 3. Wet clay and silt : 1:2

Dry sand and gravel : 1:1 1:1 1:1

4. Dry clay : 5. Moist sand:

Slope Failure shallow slopes can be eroded by run-off storm water. It is more difficult to control a large volume of water over a great length than to control the movement of less water over a short distance

 Slope Design it includes techniques related to construction, vegetation and terraces

Geotechnics
Introduction
Housing on hills involves major geotechnical problems. Foundation

and stability problems on sloping sites are controlled by geology, hydrology and history of site.

Types of problem

Factors involved in the stability of sloping sites the soil beneath all sloping sites has a tendency to move down the slope in response to gravitational forces and is restrained by shear strength of the soil. Groundwater pressures also have a major influence on slope stability.

 Preliminary investigations of hilly sites Aerial photographs these are invaluable as they give perfect 3dimentional view of the site. Maps study of geological and topographical maps also reveal valuable information

Field investigations
Trial pits these excavated by small backactor are generally inexpensive and allow the geologist to examine the upper few meters of soil in-situ.

Boreholes these are required for deeper exploration of soil Groundwater levels it is normally necessary to install instruments in the ground to measure the water levels over a period of time

Laboratory testing
Sample of various soils are taken and mainly checked for shear strength.

Interpretation of investigations Investigations will provide sufficient information to allow the engineer to make a reasonable assessment of geology and hydrology of hillside as a basis of estimating the stability of slopes.

Stabilization of hillside sites

Even if the site is unstable, it can be developed by following options: Reduce angle of slope Reduce the water pressures

Increase the shearing resistance

Foundations
In addition to normal requirements, it is necessary to consider the influence the building load on overall slope. This is generally achieved by using piles to transfer the load to the underlying stable material.