Literature reviews

Experiments in Affordable Housing

By Uday Athavankar, Prasad Anaokar, Ameya Athavankar

Engineers, Architects and Developers have explored many alternative approaches to

affordable housing. Some seek to achieve affordability by reducing the size of the flats,
exploring remote locations so that the land cost is lower and exploring economies of scale.
Others seek advantages of economies of scale in manufacturing technology, like
prefabrication, supply chain management and so on.

All these are important steps, but are they enough? Do they really address the problem of
‘affordable housing for all’? None of them have brought in fresh thinking and promoted
innovation in affordable housing. Much needed design thinking continues to remain a
small voice in these scheme things.

This problem is investigated from a human-centre design background. Different questions

are raised. Are all poor the same? Do they demand the same design response? How much
are the people for whom we are building, involved in the process? This was the starting
point for our work.

So in-depth studies of how people live, and importantly how they aspire to live has been
done. How they manage growing families in the tiny spaces they live in is investigated.
Engaging games are developed, to get people to participate in the design process. The
research revealed differentiated nature of their living patterns and user personalities. New
directions of exploration are possible, if the problem of affordable housing is redefined as
one of affordable living.

This analysis became the basis for explorations of design responses.

Besides housing, the authors have been working for product industries as consultants and
that experience has influenced the thinking process in housing projects.

3D Living design was developed as a part of the Master of Design project. It was designed
by three students at the Industrial Design Centre, IIT Bombay and guided by the author. It
was funded by TATA Centre for Technology and Design.
This part of the work was initiated by seed grant from ACC and later funded by grant from
HUDCO. All the authors were involved in developing the solutions.

This success rate of 1/10 is normal in product industries. Venture capital also works on similar
premises.

State of housing

State of housing curated by Rahul Mehrotra ,Ranjit Hoskote and Kaiwan Mehta. State of
housing - aspirations imaginaries and realities in India aims to develop a consensus of this
crisis and create an integrated database of case studies and methods enabling a
comprehensive understanding of the situation.

What is home?

● “Home is where people, land, environment, culture all are connected.”

● “Home is where family comes together.”
● “Home is where you have a sense of complete security.”
● “One cannot survive without a home.”
● “Everyone should get a shelter befitting human beings.”

These are some of the comments of the common people that were interviewed in the
short film which defines the perspective of home from different points of view.

Population

The main cause of slum habitation is increasing population, mostly the low income
group.Urbanisation brings unemployment,overpopulation,housing issues ,lack of affordable
facilities thus resulting in pollution,slum creation,increase in crime rate ,congestion and
poverty.

Migration

Many people migrate to urban areas in search of jobs, a better lifestyle etc. but people
who cannot afford the urban expenses end up in homeless situations. The sense of
belonging to a particular place is lacking due to frequent migration. As a result of
accelerated urbanization and growing population, the majority of India's new urban
dwellers will belong to underprivileged classes suffering deficits of opportunity and
entitlement. India currently records an urban housing shortage of approximately 20 million
units of which 57 % are designated for economically disadvantaged sections and 40% for
lower income groups. Major causes for migration, occupation, natural calamities and
redevelopment projects. As a result, the natural resources get affected in a particular area.
As stated by the citizens, the present generation has to sacrifice their life for making a
better living for their upcoming generations getting access to utilities and basic amenities
and settling down once again.

Sanitation and privacy

People living in slums do not have proper sanitation facilities. Women are the most sufferers
due to lack of privacy for changing sanitation etc. Considering the privacy only the pot
mala which is an extension for sleeping can be taken into account but is very
uncomfortable and one cannot even stand in that space. Many women facing domestic
violence should have a space where they can live for a night. Basic sanitation facilities to
be provided.

Caste discrimination

Caste discrimination like Hindu Muslim Bangladeshi results and conflicts and many more
issues while living in a society. The sense of belonging is lost for the family of the sufferers yet
the one common thing everybody claims is the right to shelter.

Conclusion

The intent of the film was to complement the otherwise objective and historic as well as
statistical reading of the State of Housing in the exhibition.

Saakshi Mhatre 31
Komal Tawde 64
Swarnim Waingankar 70