Housing Design

V.Balasubramanian
Associate Professor of Architecture
TCE, Madurai-15

Definition
Housing is The physical environment,
neighbourhood, micro district or the
physical infra structures that mankind use
for shelter and the environs ofthat
structure, including all necessary services,
facilities, equipment and devices needed
for the physical health and social well
being of the family and the individual.

Housing Design Process

Project Formulation

Analysis
Design Development
Evaluation/Alternatives
Implementation
Maintenance

Project Formulation
Housing is a Commodity
Factors influence the Housing Project
Land - Value, Condition and Ownership
Need and Context
Target Group and Composition of Typologies
Prevailing Building Bye Laws
Sources of Infrastructure
Organisational Hierarchy ( In case of Industrial Housing)
Finance and market
Cost of Construction
Delivery and Maintenance

Site Analysis
Site Analysis On site
Off Site Condition
Natural Factors Water, Physiography,
Orientation, Vegetation , View , Climate
etc.,

Manmade Factors Location, Cultural

Attraction, Utilities and Services, Buildings ,
Roads Etc.,

Onsite Conditions
Identification of the following:

Site Potentials
Site Problems
Site issues
Site Amenity
Site Danger Signal

Off Site Condition

Direct Affect
Availability and Proximity to various utilities
Indirect Affect:
Availability of Primary School
Un desirable views
Parking, Shops , bus stop, library and Park

Design Development

House Analysis
Housing Concept Development
Open Spaces
Circulation and Parking
Services
Recreational facilities and Amenities
Landscaping
Materials & Technology and Cost
Community Participation

House Analysis
Determination of House Quality and Suitability
Identification of Household types
Identification of House Type
Correlation of Household/House type

Territory.. Orientation.Privacy..Identity.Convenience...
Accessibility.. Safety.

House typologies

Housing Concept Development

Development Program Based on

Human Need
Defining Cluster Space
Impact Assessment
Evaluation

Relates to four factors

Amenity.Identity..Land use. Activity

Cluster
Formation

Unit Entrance

Types Open space

Local (neighbourhood)
District
Regional
Icon open spaces.

Open Spaces

Open Spaces

Active and passive open space and natural

areas

Location, size and setting

location of open spaces should consider
accessibility and equitable distribution
Parks may be linear when connecting two
destinations, or stand alone spaces, but
should always be of a reasonable size and
shape to easily allow the desired use.
space should not be the left-over or undevelopable land

Safer by design
Surveillance
Access control
Territorial
reinforcement
Management and maintenance

HIERARCHY
Private
Semi Public
Public open

PUBLIC

SEMI PUBLIC

PRIVATE

Key Issues
Benefits
Risks
Savings
Costs
Barriers
Benchmarks

Environmental protection and sustainability

Biodiversity
Mature vegetation should always be retained where possible in public
open spaces
Design, planning and management considerations must be well thought-out to
ensure the dual-use areas remains safe to use for recreational and leisure
purposes, including:
The use of appropriate signage
Providing fencing or restrictions to access for deep water bodies where
supervision of small children may be required;
Ensuring areas for playgrounds are appropriately sited away from
drainage corridors or flood zones
Planning and providing adequate funding to enable areas to be maintained
including ensuring drains are not blocked and detention basins are properly
functional.

Open space design principles

Development phase actions

Feasibility
Planning
Design
Construction
Lot Creation
Completion

Balance

Provide a variety of open spaces to serve a range of different active and

passive recreational roles to meet the diversity of community needs.

Access

Provide for safe and convenient access to open spaces within and
between communities, and where possible co-locate open spaces with
shops, schools and other community facilities to reduce parking and
minimise walking distances.

Preservation

Use open space to protect and enhance the environmental, cultural and
heritage values of an area

Place Making

Locate open spaces to build on the special attributes of an area for longterm public amenity and sense of place; for example an open-space network
may include hill tops, river frontage, mature trees, places with panoramic
views, rocky outcrops and remnant vegetation.

Integration

Connect open space as part of a municipal network and link into the
regional open space system where possible.

Safety

Design and maintain open spaces to ensure that public safety is

commensurate to the level of use and targeted user groups.

Sustainability

Design, development and management of open space should respond to

environmental values and conditions, community aspirations and economic
considerations and must remain viable in the long term.

Equity

Provide equitable access to parks and open spaces to ensure that the type,
location and quality of the infrastructure are evenly spread.

Waterwise

Provide areas within the open-space network sufficient to detain and cleanse
stormwater runoff and avoid impacting sensitive areas.

Circulation

Cul de Sac/ Parking

Infra Structure and Services

Social infrastructure: An integrated township always has the basic social
infrastructure essentials. They are as follows:

School: A quality school with education up to at least 10thstandard is set up

within the township, reducing the travelling time between home and school and
in turn providing the children with more time for play and studies.

Medicare: A good healthcare facility with at least 50-plus beds and an

emergency care is set up within the township, thereby facilitating residents.

Recreation: Adequate space for basic sports such as football, cricket,

tennis and badminton, fitness facilities including a gymnasium and swimming
pools are set up within the township to enhance social lifestyle.

Community centre: A spacious, well-decorated community centre with a

club house and a function hall is set up within the township.

Infrastructure and services:

Road network: A well-planned road network both within the township

and connecting to the nearest highway or main road is built, thereby easing
communication.

Water supply and management: A well-planned and sustainable water

management system is built within the township, providing round the clock
water supply to residents as well as treating the waste water generated
within the township and recycling it. This also reduces dependence on
municipal water supply.

Electricity supply and management: Although an integrated township

depends on a public or private utility supplier for basic power supply, it has
adequate, if not abundant, back-up power for both homes and common
areas during temporary or scheduled power cuts or disruptions by the utility
supplier.

Communication infrastructure: Good quality telecom services are also

made available within the township and nearby.

Garbage and waste management: Good garbage collection, aggregation,

treatment and disposal system is a must for a healthier and eco-friendly
township.

Infrastructure maintenance: Proper and regular maintenance of roads,

pathways, parks, electrical and plumbing infrastructure, children play areas
and common areas including community centre is essential for a welldeveloped integrated township.

Security: Superior estate security and safety for all residents is a critical
element of an integrated township.
Shopping and entertainment: An integrated township is incomplete without
shopping centres and entertainment areas.

Entertainment: Quality cinema or multiplex, popular games and kid

entertainment facilities should be established within the township.

Shopping: Well-stocked grocery stores as well as shopping centres

including branded garment stores, electronic goods should be established
within the township.

Food courts: Good quality and hygienic food courts with ample menu
options should be established within the townships to cater to the taste buds
of all types of residents.

Community Participation
DEFINING PARTICIPATION
community participation is an active process by which beneficiary or
client groups influence the direction and execution of a development
project with a view to enhancing their being in terms of income,
personal growth, self-reliance, or other values they cherish (paul,
1988)
RESULT OF PARTICIPATION?
EFFICIENCY
EFFECTIVENESS
SELF-RELIANCE
COVERAGE
SUSTAINABILITY

Level of participation
The guide proposes a five-rung ladder of participation which relates to the
stance an organization promoting participation may take.
Information: merely telling people what is planned.
Consultation: offering some options, listening to feedback, but not
allowing new ideas.
Deciding together: encouraging additional options and ideas, and
providing opportunities for joint decision-making.
Acting together: not only do different interests decide together on what
is best, they form a partnership to carry it out.
Supporting independent community interests: local groups or
organizations are offered funds, advice or other support to develop their
own agendas within guidelines.

Questions???