sush cruz | University Of Pangasinan (original) (raw)
Papers by sush cruz
Development Action Group: Sustainable medium-density housing 132 9. A range of housing typologies... more Development Action Group: Sustainable medium-density housing 132 9. A range of housing typologies Contrary to popular belief, 'housing' does not only refer to a house as a physical structure, but encompasses all the different elements that constitute a human settlement. Urban environments that display high quality private space, communal space and access to facilities, contribute positively to the living conditions of residents. The physical, social, psychological and cultural environments contribute to the creation of a 'sense of place'. A high quality urban environment brings about a positive sense of place, which in turn contributes to high levels of resident satisfaction, ownership and identity. 1 Building and site design, in particular, contribute significantly to the 'sense of place' and quality of a housing development. 2 More specifically, building costs, service provision and service costs, the nature of the unit, the configuration of the open space system and residents' perception of and satisfaction with their housing environment, are all determined by housing typology. According to Kevin Lynch, the basic texture of a city is determined by the predominant type and mix of its residential buildings. He summarises the models in a matrix pitting building height against ground coverage: 3 Table 22: Building height and ground coverage determining city texture Ground coverage Building height High (over 6 storeys) Moderate (3-6 storeys) Low (1-2 storeys) High (over 50%)-Dense walk-ups Courtyard housing Moderate (10-50%) High slabs Ground-access walk-ups Attached houses Low (under 10%) Towers in the green-Free standing housing Housing typologies discussed in this book include row-housing and semi-detached housing, three-to four-storey walk-ups, courtyard housing, flats, single room accommodation and cluster housing. These typologies are also illustrated in the eleven case studies. A combination of typologies used in the same development for different income groups and household configurations enable residential environments to offer choice and diversity. The promotion of mixed use, which includes social facilities and trading space for small or micro-enterprises, as is the case in Sakhasonke Village, can help create vibrant housing environments and support residents' livelihood activities, and enhance their general well-being. When making decisions about the choice and appropriateness of different housing typologies, consideration must be given to the availability and cost of land, the socioeconomic profile of end-users, the urban context and natural systems. Architectural, urban design and planning solutions that are not based on adequate knowledge about the end-users' expectations, needs and values may have unintended consequences that are contrary to the intentions of planners and designers. 4 Family separation was an insidious by-product of apartheid spatial planning and design. It is therefore imperative that design facilitates family life as this is critical to socio-spatial transformation in South Africa. The importance of cooperation between experts in fields such as economics, the built environment, ecology, sociology and psychology become apparent in the attempt to provide sustainable housing. Untermann and Small 5 emphasise the importance of planners' and designers' understanding and knowledge of the house analysis and design components as part of the overall process. They organise this into four parts: 9. A RANGE OF HOUSING TYPOLOGIES
Development Action Group: Sustainable medium-density housing 132 9. A range of housing typologies... more Development Action Group: Sustainable medium-density housing 132 9. A range of housing typologies Contrary to popular belief, 'housing' does not only refer to a house as a physical structure, but encompasses all the different elements that constitute a human settlement. Urban environments that display high quality private space, communal space and access to facilities, contribute positively to the living conditions of residents. The physical, social, psychological and cultural environments contribute to the creation of a 'sense of place'. A high quality urban environment brings about a positive sense of place, which in turn contributes to high levels of resident satisfaction, ownership and identity. 1 Building and site design, in particular, contribute significantly to the 'sense of place' and quality of a housing development. 2 More specifically, building costs, service provision and service costs, the nature of the unit, the configuration of the open space system and residents' perception of and satisfaction with their housing environment, are all determined by housing typology. According to Kevin Lynch, the basic texture of a city is determined by the predominant type and mix of its residential buildings. He summarises the models in a matrix pitting building height against ground coverage: 3 Table 22: Building height and ground coverage determining city texture Ground coverage Building height High (over 6 storeys) Moderate (3-6 storeys) Low (1-2 storeys) High (over 50%)-Dense walk-ups Courtyard housing Moderate (10-50%) High slabs Ground-access walk-ups Attached houses Low (under 10%) Towers in the green-Free standing housing Housing typologies discussed in this book include row-housing and semi-detached housing, three-to four-storey walk-ups, courtyard housing, flats, single room accommodation and cluster housing. These typologies are also illustrated in the eleven case studies. A combination of typologies used in the same development for different income groups and household configurations enable residential environments to offer choice and diversity. The promotion of mixed use, which includes social facilities and trading space for small or micro-enterprises, as is the case in Sakhasonke Village, can help create vibrant housing environments and support residents' livelihood activities, and enhance their general well-being. When making decisions about the choice and appropriateness of different housing typologies, consideration must be given to the availability and cost of land, the socioeconomic profile of end-users, the urban context and natural systems. Architectural, urban design and planning solutions that are not based on adequate knowledge about the end-users' expectations, needs and values may have unintended consequences that are contrary to the intentions of planners and designers. 4 Family separation was an insidious by-product of apartheid spatial planning and design. It is therefore imperative that design facilitates family life as this is critical to socio-spatial transformation in South Africa. The importance of cooperation between experts in fields such as economics, the built environment, ecology, sociology and psychology become apparent in the attempt to provide sustainable housing. Untermann and Small 5 emphasise the importance of planners' and designers' understanding and knowledge of the house analysis and design components as part of the overall process. They organise this into four parts: 9. A RANGE OF HOUSING TYPOLOGIES