Design Statement:
Whenever the subject of affordable housing is brought up, most of the time images of cramped spaces and undesirable living conditions will come to mind. In urban areas especially, where land is scarce and prices are high, affordable housing would usually be in the form of compact, pigeon-hole spaces that leave little room for communal areas for social interaction. Working within the cost constraint, built-up areas are usually small, readily partitioned to designate rooms for specific purposes. This pre-determined layout, fixed early on in the S&P agreement, is assumed to be able to homogenously cater for everybody, regardless of their needs or situation. This is a forced culture, where the occupants will make do with the spaces that have been fixed for them. In this instance we might find a person living alone paying for 2 extra bedrooms which he does not need at the moment.
Affordable housing means providing a habitat that is able to fulfil its occupant’s needs as they evolve throughout his or her lifetime, in terms of financial capability, or the need for space to accommodate a growing family or an improvement in lifestyle. It explores flexible, modular design that enables personalization and customization to suit current needs that is affordable, with room for expansion to meet future needs within the discipline of a modular grid system.
The idea behind the design is that house owners can buy un-partitioned and un-finished space that allows flexibility to be upgraded and expanded when finances permit. The design proposes a ‘supermarket concept’ where the house owners are able to select from wide range of tools and products that are easy to install, enabling them to renovate and expand their home. All these products, from partitions to finishes to furniture, would be compatible and conform to the modular dimensions of the space.
The inspiration for the flexible space comes from the typology of the traditional Japanese house, which follows the module of the tatami. The construction is lightweight, the spaces are flexible and expansion is possible by repeating the tatami module.
Working from this inspiration the proposed design adopts the module of a 2400mm x 2400mm framing grid. While this shape has comfortable dimensions which mean the space can be efficiently utilised, it also takes into account the dimensions of a standard car park, allowing the car parks to be provided within the column grid on floors below.
As the add-on products like partitions and finishes would also be compatible to this module, this would reduce the wastage of materials. For example, 64 pieces of 300 x 300mm floor tiles would be able to fit in 1 module of 2400 x 2400mm space nicely. Expansion of units shall be in repetitions of the basic module within the grid system. Therefore, although expansion is possible, the development adheres to the discipline of the grid system and shall not be a haphazard growth. Public spaces, essential for community interaction, are allocated first on the site as a point of reference from which the units shall be positioned. The development will grow around the public spaces with it as the nucleus that can also expand according to the modular grid, creating a network of shared spaces. These spaces encourage intermingling between residents and instil a sense of belonging to the community and enjoyment of living in the neighbourhood.
Summary
The design address the issue of housing affordability by giving options for the house buyer to buy a flexible space and upgrade or expands it according to what he needs within what his finances permit at the moment. It also changes the perception towards affordable housing being a congested living condition, where spaces can expand in an orderly manner that conforms with the modular dimensions.
Design issues:
· compact
· layout fixed
· typically has designated rooms for pre-determined specific purposes
· lack of interaction space
· forced culture
Design idea:
· Buying un-partitioned and unfinished space, with the intention to upgrade and expand at a later date when finances permit.
· ‘Supermarket concept’ where the house owners are able to select from wide range of tool and products that are easy to house and install, enabling them to renovate and expand their home.
· Flexible housing prototype.
· Flexibility aspects:
Ø Composition of varied household within the single structure
Ø Choice of components available
Ø Ability to make future modifications with minimal inconvenience
Design concept:
· Inspiration - traditional Japanese house, perfect paradigms which are
Lightweight, flexible, low-key order.
Design strategies:
· Dimensions in modular size
· Reduce the waste of material
· Framing dimension 2400mm x 2400mm by following standard car park dimension
· To produce the space of comfortable dimension
· Material selection same principle implemented to accommodate interior finishes such as drywall and floor tile.
Room to grow and change
· Volume of space can be subdivided and rearranged both pre- and post-occupancy to accommodate transformation from one housing type to another with minimal cost.
Menu of interior element and cost:
· Kitchen/bath layout /accessories
Menu of exterior element and cost:
· Window / add on element( backyard/ balcony/ landscape deck)
Summary
Units are using lightweight, non- load bearing internal wall partition, to reduce the consumption of resource in the course of construction.
