Human Settlements Review - Parliamentary Monitoring Group

Human Settlements Review, Volume 1, Number 1, 2010
Osman and Gibberd (2000: 10) identified a
practical framework for the design of new
housing where elements of a house can be
categorised as (i) Universal Design features,
(ii) Inclusive Design features, (iii) Adaptable
features and (iv) Specific features where
each category indicates the features of the
residential environment and what needs to be
initally incorporated or adapted in the future to
serve the needs of a diverse population.
3.4.2 Participation
The concept of participation, as an accepted
paradigm in development, is explored through
methods that allow for user participation
in design decision-making. Such designaiding
techniques optimise the contribution
of role-players in housing through maximum
transparency and effective communication.
Housing is perceived as the study of options,
giving people variety and choice, rather
than the previous tradition of design where
architects worked in isolation and the end
product was fixed and unchanging based on a
rigid aesthetic ideal.
By adopting a democratic process in decisionmaking
processes regarding the built
environment and acknowledging the large
number of participants in its development, a
richer, layered, sustainable environment which
fosters a sense of belonging, ownership and
pride may be achieved. This is in contrast to
the conventional top down approaches to
decision-making within the built environment,
which are strictly planned and rigid. This
strict planning results in sterile, repetitive,
monotonous, fragmented, mono-functional
environments and disempowers people
(professionals and communities alike).
Habraken (1998: 28) states that the built
environment may be described solely in terms
of live configurations operating on different
levels. In so doing, it is described as a dynamic
form controlled by people, fully taking into
account that the built environment is a product
of people acting. Thus re-interpretation of living
environments to suit changing demographics,
family configurations and lifestyles needs to be
accomodated. Housing may be sub-divided,
clustered, re-arranged as needs arise.
The concept of participation is thus, not
only confined to “once-off” consultation in
initial stages of design where in some cases
communities participate in decision-making
processes, but also as an on-going process
where the built environment allows for future
adaptations. This is even more relevant when
it has been argued that participation is not
about asking people what they want as their
wants are experientially determined (Dewar
and Uytenbogaardt, 1991).
3.4.3 Experimentation
The question arises as to whether affordable
housing is a suitable place to experiment
with materials or new technologies. People
generally do not want to stand out in the
neighbourhood as those living in a “weird
experimental box”. This “standing out”
also exacerbates the separateness; thus
highlighting the significance of a single support
structure within the urban environment that
serves everyone, regardless of race or socioeconomic
status, and that allows for different
users of different age groups or mental or
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