Low-cost housing

GOLLIS UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF ENGNEERING AND GEOLOGY

LOW COST HOIUS PROJCGT AT HARG, SOMALILAND

BY

AHMED A. ADAN

ABDIHAKIM D. MIRE

SAKARIE J. ALI

FEB, 2023

HARGEISA, SOMALILAND

LOW-COST HOUSING PROJECT AT HARGISA, SOMALINAD

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 Low-cost housing

BY

AHMED A. ADAN

ABDIHAKIM D. MIRE

SAKARIE J. ALI

A THESIS SUBMITTED TO GOLLIS UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF ENGINEERINGG

AND GEOLOGY
STUDIES IN PARTIAFULFILLMENTNT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR BACHELOR
DEGREE IARCHITECTURERE AND URBAN PLANNING

FEB, 2023

HARGEISA, SOMALILAND

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GOLLIS UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF ENGNRING AND GEOLOGY
LOW-COST HOUSING PROJECT AT HARGISA, SOMALINAD

BY

AHMED A. ADAN

ABDIHAKIM D. MIRE

SAKARIE J. ALI

APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF EXAMINERS

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Dean, GraduatStudiees signature

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Advisor signature

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External Examiner signature

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Internal Examiner signature

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First, we would like to thank the Almighty God for guiding us throughout the period of study,
which has made it possible for us to reach this.

We would also like to express my gratitude to our Advisor Mustafa Omer (Ass.Professor); who
supported and guided us during the course of writing this thesis. His contribution helped us to
successfully complete this work.

We also extend our sincere gratitude to all who participated in this study through giving
information and all our colleagues who support us through providing ideas and material support.

Finally, we are greatly indebted our families and friends for their encouragement, moral support
and suggestions.

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ABSTRACT

This paper discusses a strategy and functional approach for the provision of lowcost housing
for the urban poor in Hargeisa Somaliland. It notes the rapid rate of urbanization occurring in
Somaliland, which is due mainly to massive rural-urban drift, and explosive urban population
growth. A major consequence of this occurrence has been the deterioration of housing
situation in the urban centers, manifested in severe shortages of housing units, and
overcrowding in poor quality buildings that are situated in degraded environment. The urban
poor constitute the vast majority of urban dwellers and they are in a disadvantaged economic
position to build for themselves and are generally unable to make effective demand of
existing housing. Housing this urban population is a major thrust of sustainable urban
development. This paper asserts that a strategy for achieving the goal of adequately housing
the urban poor is extensive mass housing development employing indigenous materials and
methods, and involving the target population from policy making through programme
execution. This is a bottom-up, participatory approach that will ensure the sustainability of
the housing development.

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CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The majority of the rural population migrates to urban areas in search of jobs and higher
incomes for their survival. This creates a huge demand for housing and infrastructure in
urban areas. This is a phase where low-cost housing comes into action. There is an urgent
need to access alternative building materials and techniques that are both affordable and
sustainable.

Low-cost housing is regarded as affordable for low and middle-income earners. It is possible
to achieve this by increasing worker efficiencies and lowering the aesthetic cost of the
building. With the increasing importance of cost-cutting techniques, time and cost are two
major concerns. There is a myth in many people’s minds; they think that whenever
construction is done at a low cost, the materials used will always be of low quality. Low-cost
construction has much to do with proper budgeting and looking for ways to reduce
construction costs through proper management and the right use of local materials, skills, and
technology without surrendering the strength and life of the structure (2022, Yogesh A).

In Malaysia, the government has taken steps to guarantee that the homeownership program is
made available to LIEs through the development of low-cost housing (LCH). According to
The Economic Planning Unit (2015), affordable high-rise housing ensures that disadvantaged
households have a place to live. The LIEs' high-rise buildings fall within this category of
high-rise residential structures. The three elements that make up Malaysia's LCH definition
are also known as "Type A" affordable housing. This covers the asking price, the monthly
ceiling on household income, and the building requirements.

The selling price shouldn't go beyond the maximum household income of RM42,000.
According to the current guidelines as updated in 2002, LCHs must be at least 678 square
meters in size and LIEs cannot cost more than RM2,500 per month. The least cheap housing
option is Type A, and maintenance may be difficult given one's financial situation. Low- and
medium-cost housing (Affordable Housing Type B) and medium-cost housing (Affordable
Housing Type C) are further forms of affordable housing in Malaysia. The gross production

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value of Malaysia's construction sector increased from RM177.9 billion in 2015 to RM204.4
billion in 2017 (US$1/RM4.1).

According to the National Property Information Centre (2019), the country’s overall
residential property stock for the third quarter of 2019 was 5,692,646. This corroborated
Khan et al. (2014) and reported that the the building construction sector had advanced
significantly. Regardless of this track record, Hauashdh et al. (2020) affirmed that residential
building maintenance practices are poor for private and public sectors in Malaysia. It implies
that less attention has been placed on building maintenance. (Samsurijan 2022).

The South Africa investigation examines sustainability in the construction sector within the
context of South Africa as a "developing" country. Specifically, it explores the sustainability
of low-cost housing delivery. With a multitude of social, economic, and environmental issues
present in South Africa, it is imperative for effective strategies and technologies to be
implemented to meet these needs. In response to this, this investigation evaluates existing
technological and strategic frameworks responsible for the construction of low-cost housing.

One of the most important aspects of combating poverty and implementing effective
governance in SA is the development of informal and affordable housing. Settlements are
mostly populated by people.

Disadvantaged people suffer from erratic or nonexistent access to resources (such as

education, money, etc.) that may help them improve their situation. The people' health and
social security are significantly impacted by the lack of basic necessities such reliable access
to clean water, power, efficient drainage, waste disposal, and home security. (Rynhoud 2019).

In Somaliland low cost housing are very slowly especially the city of Hargeisa which is a city
whose growth and population is increasing ,she is in dire need of affordable housing. The
most house prices fall between $40,000.00 and $100,000.00. In Hargeisa (Aar 2019)

Most of the people in the city are low incomes which face highly running cost of energy at
their homes the cost of electricity in Somaliland can reach $1 per kWh, whereas it costs
about $0.12 per kWh in the USA. (MacDonald 2023).

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Low-cost housing is the one in which cost of construction is reduced without any scope of
reducing the quality and also ensures good or better performance of the housing units. Cost
cuttings are achieved by using various alternate methods of construction and also by use of
various alternate materials. There is also a misconception among various people that, low-
cost housing units are of low quality. However, this is not true and a false assumption.
(CHARY 2018) .

Low-cost housing is a new concept which is focused on effective budgeting and utilization of
techniques which result in reducing the cost of construction by the utilization of locally
available resources and reusing the construction waste. Substitution of construction waste
materials will conserve waning resources and will reduce environmental damages caused by
construction. Construction waste materials can be reused or recycled partially or completely
to obtain a suitable product. Hence, the purpose is to identify the type and quantity of
construction waste generated. Also, to determine the potential of reuse and recycling of
construction waste developing a new construction technique which will help to achieve
sustainable and affordable housing. (Sourabh Patil1 2021).Therefore the measures to improve
low-cost housing are providing safe and affordable living condition. Supply houses friendly
with environment and providing sustainable housing (reduce running cost).

 Low Cost Housing theory is techniques which help in reducing the cost construction through
the use of locally available materials along with improved skills and technology without
sacrificing the strength, performance and life of the structure, low cost housing doesn't mean
that the building materials are cheap. It means a concept of reduction in cost of construction
without sacrificing the strength required for the strength required for the performance of
building. Apart from financial measure the actual cost of housing can also be reduced by
sharing the walls or smart design. Reducing cost of structure is also achieved by postponing
finishing work. In low-cost housing construction method of walling, roofing and lintel are
compared. (Maitry Chauhan1 2019). This thesis is concentrated low-cost housing in
Hargeisa Somaliland where inefficiency with sustainable low-cost housing is.

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1.2. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Low-income groups in urban areas have to choose to live in low-cost housing due to the
higher cost of living. This study aims to understand the effect of living in low-cost housing in
urban areas. Most low-cost housing has smaller built-up spaces, inadequate facilities, and a
noisy and deprived area. Housing is essential, and as a key determinant of health and
happiness, the quality of life depends on the provision of housing and the facilities that come
with it. (Nur Masyitah Ghazali1 2021)

In Hargeisa city the cost of living is higher, the land and spaces are limited, the rents of
private housing are expensive compared to social income, There are slums in the city which
consist temporary houses with low quality of life and most people could not afford medium
and high-cost housing for a comfortable and better living due to their socioeconomic status
limitations.

This problem as the cost of housing goes up in a community, people may not be able to afford
comfortable live and that causes slums to form naturally where there is a threat to the
community's health and stability of life.

1.3. OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

1.3.1 General research Objective
The overall objective of this study is to improving sustainable low-cost housing in
Hargeisa, Somaliland

1.3.2. Specific research Objectives

More specifically the objectives of this research are: -

• To provide safe and affordable living condition.

• To provide houses friendly environment.

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• To reduce cost of housing during the construction.

1.4. RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1.4.1. General Research Question

How to improve sustainable low-cost housing in Hargeisa?

1.4.2. Specific Research Questions

1. How do providing safe and affordable living conditions?

2. Does it provide houses friendly to the environment?

3. How to reduce the cost of housing during construction?

1.5. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The findings of this study will help the low-income community which lives in the city. In
addition, the research will provide recommended solutions for the housing problems.

1.6. SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The research was focus on only to assess the low-cost housing in Hargeisa, Somaliland,
where cost of housing goes up.

1.7. LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

Due to the nature of the research methodologies utilized and how they are used, every
research endeavor has some limits. The absence of earlier local research is one of the
research's weaknesses.

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1.8. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

Safety Affordable living

condition

Low-cost housing Friendly environment houses

Redaction of cost of housing

during construction

Figure 1: conceptual frame work

The framework in Figure1 was clarifying the relationship between Low-cost housing and
safety affordable living condition, friendly environment condition, reduction of cost housing
during construction. Project quality was conceptualized cost/budget low-cost housing project
It is crucial for the underprivileged and all society.

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Chapter two

Literature review

2.0. Introduction

This chapter presents the reviewed literature which is related to determinants of low cost
house in general, but particularly as they related to safety, affordable living condition,
friendly environment reduction cost housing during construction. It also shows the theoretical
framework, summary of the chapter and its conclusion.

2.1. Affordable living condition and low cost house

Affordable housing is often defined as an adequate dwelling where less than 30 percent of
monthly household income is devoted to rent, or where the dwelling’s purchase price is less
than three times a household’s annual income. The housing price-toincome ratio (PIR) is the
basic affordability measure for housing in an urban area. It is generally defined as the ratio of
the median house price to the median family income. In the Global Urban Observatory
Databases of UN- HABITAT, PIR is one of the important urban indicators, and a ratio
between 3 and 5 is considered normal or satisfactory. In the United States and Canada, the
PIR is 3.2 and 3.5, respectively, which meet the international standard for a normal or
affordable level of housing (Angel, 5th Annual Demographia 2009)

In the past, the needs assessment on this topic was barely seen. The research papers searched
were based on the idea of affordability and the present models being implemented by
construction companies. There are scarce literature sources available on the needs of people and
what they perceive as an affordable housing model. Though there is adequate amount of
information available on the online media sources, dissatisfied with the housing ecosystem. The
crisis of over population and their impact of the essential resources such as land, water. The
income disparity further puts enormous pressure on the division of resources and news articles
are amongst the ones to record it but in the research backdrop, innovations and techniques with

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policy recommendations, everything about affordable housing has been covered. Having
identified this gap and this research paper is developed to provide insight into the world of youth
and their idea of affordable housing. (Bahuguna 2020)

Amongst the most accepted definitions of housing affordability is taken as a measure of

expenditure on housing to income of the household. This is also accepted by the Indian
Government, which states "Affordable housing refers to any housing that meets some form of
affordability criterion, which could be income level of the family, size of the dwelling unit or
affordability in terms of EMI size or ratio of house price to annual income" (High Level Task
Force on Affordable Housing for All, December 2008. In 2011, Ministry of Housing and
Urban Poverty Alleviation, came up with this matrix to justify affordable housing. (Bahuguna
2020)

2.2 Friendly environment houses and low-cost housing

Assuming that the proposed concept of affordable housing embedded with eco-friendly and smart
features will be an attractive sales package, the subsequent question is whether or not it will lead
to community happiness. This is because urban residents are often perceived to be unhappy and
dissatisfied with their living conditions (Ling et al. 2015). Affordable housing programmes tend
to concentrate on apartments and terraces, where the residents live in close proximity. Like it or
not, they will be sharing the same wall, same roof, same corridor and same facilities in their
areas. Thus, the house and the neighborhood conditions should meet the residents’ requirements.
Drawing on the above discussion, this study has two objectives: first to suggest workable
strategies to sell the affordable house by embedding eco-friendly features and smart technologies;
and second to explore how the affordable eco-friendly smart house can contribute to community
happiness in Malaysia. This study offers new insight into affordable housing research,
recommending a new approach. Theoretically, the inductive approach applied in this study
proposes a framework for future researchers. The research outcomes will enrich the literature in
the housing domain. The study will make a practical contribution for housing developers,
recommending how to sell eco-friendly smart houses by considering design, selection of
materials, construction approach, cost reduction alternatives, etc. The valuable insight from
stakeholders is anticipated to elicit interest in eco-friendly smart houses that will benefit the
sustainability of our environment. (. 2020)

This work presents a low-cost and eco-friendly building material named Agrostone panel.
Africa’s urban population is growing at an annual rate of 2.8% and 62% of its population will live
in urban areas by 2050. As a consequence, many of the least urbanized and least developed

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African countries’ will face serious challenges in providing affordable housing to the urban
dwellers. Since the cost of building materials accounts for the largest proportion of the overall
construction cost, innovating low-cost building material is vital. Agrostone panel is used in
housing projects in Ethiopia. It uses raw materials of agricultural/industrial wastes and/or natural
minerals as a filler, magnesium-based chemicals as a binder and fiberglass as reinforcement.
Agrostone panel reduces the cost of wall construction by 50% compared with the conventional
building materials. The pros and cons of Agrostone panel as well as the use of other waste
materials as a raw material to make the panel more sustainable, low-cost and better properties are
discussed. (Taffese, Low-Cost Eco-Friendly Building Material: A 2012)

2.3. Redaction of cost of housing during construction

Low cost housing is a new concept which deals with effective budgeting and following of
techniques that help reduce construction costs through the use of locally available materials along
with improved skills and technologies without sacrificing the strength, performance and life of
the structure (Kumar, 1999; Civil Engineering Portal, 2008).

A.The traditional construction methods

The traditional construction methods are used in the case study. The detailed procedures of each
step used for the case study are as follows

 Foundation: Foundation is the lowest part of the structure which is provided to

distribute loads to the soil thus providing a base for the super-structure. Excavation work
is first carried out, then earth-work is filled with available earth and ends with watering
and compaction in a 6” thick layer.
 Cement concrete: Plain cement concrete is used to form a leveled surface on the
excavated soil. The volumetric concrete mix proportion of 1:4:8 (cement: sand:
aggregate), with a 6” thick layer for masonry foundation and column footings is used.
Plain cement concrete is finished on the excavated soil strata and mixed by manual
process.
 Wall construction: Size stone masonry for the foundation is constructed for outer walls
and burnt brick masonry of a 9” thick layer for main walls and a 4 ½” thick layer for all
internal walls. Good quality table-molded bricks are used for the construction.

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 Reinforced cement concrete slab and beam: The normal procedure to cast reinforced
cement concrete slab is to make shuttering and provide reinforcement and concreting.
Good steel or plywood formwork is used, with proper cover blocks between bars. Both
aggregate and sand used are clean, with aggregate being ¾” graded. After the concrete is
poured, it is properly consolidated.
 Plastering: Plastering is used for the ceiling, inside and outside walls. Joints are raked
before plastering and proper curing is ensured.
 Flooring: For flooring purpose, the earth is properly filled and consolidated in the ratio
of 1:4:8 (cement: sand: aggregate) concrete.
 Plumbing: Good quality plumbing materials are used and passed the hydrauteststest
before using it.
 Painting and finishing: Before the painting process, the surface is prepared with putty
and primer and ready-made paint is used.

B. Low cost Construction Technologies It is found that cost-effective and alternative

construction technologies, which apart from reducing construction cost by the reduction of
quantity of building materials through improved and innovative techniques, can play a great role
in providing better housing methods and protecting the environment. It should be noted that cost-
effective construction technologies do not compromise with safety and security of the buildings
and mostly follow the prevailing building codes. The detail procedures of each step used for the
case study are as follow

 Foundation: Arch foundation is used in which walls are supported on the brick or stone
masonry. For the construction of the foundation, the use of available materials such as
brick or concrete blocks can be made to resist lateral forces buttresses at the corner.
 Walling: Rat trap bond technology is used in the case study. It is an alternative brick
bonding system for English and Flemish Bond. The reduced number of joints can reduce
mortar consumption. No plastering of the outside face is required and the wall usually is
quite aesthetically pleasing and air gaps created within the wall help making the house
thermally comfortable. In summer, the temperature inside the house is usually at least 5
degrees lower that the outside ambient temperature and vice versa in winter.
 Roofing: A filler slab roofing system is used which based on the principle that for roofs
which are simply supported, the upper part of the slab is subjected to compressive forces
and the lower part of the slab experience tensile forces. Concrete is very good in
withstanding compressive forces and steel bears the load due to tensile forces. Thus the

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low tensile region of the slab does not need any concrete except for holding steel
reinforcements together.
 Flooring: Flooring is generally made of terracotta tiles or color oxides. Bedding is made
out of broken brick bats. Various patterns and designs are used, depending on shape, size
of tiles, span of flooring, and client’s personal preference.
 Plastering: Plastering can be avoided on the walls, frequent expenditure on finishes and
its maintenance is avoided. Properly protected brick wall will never loose its color or
finish.
 Doors and windows: As door and window frames are responsible for almost half the
cost of timber used, avoiding frames can considerably reduce timber cost. Door planks
are screwed together with strap iron hinges to form doors, and this can be carried by
‘holdfast’ carried into the wall. The simplest and cost effective door can be made of
vertical planks held together with horizontal or diagonal battens. A simplest frameless
window consists of a vertical plank of about 9” wide set into two holes, one at the top
and one at the bottom. This forms a simple pivotal window. Wide span windows can be
partially framed and fixed to walls or can have rows of pivotal planks. ( W. Y. Tam
2011)

Low cost housing refers to those housing units which are affordable by that section of
society whose income is below than median household income. This depends on
three key parameters—income level, size of dwelling unit and affordability. This
paper aims to point out the various aspects of predestined building methodologies by
highlighting the different available techniques, and the economical advantages
achieved by its adoption. In a building the walls, floors and roofs are the most
important sections, which can be analyzed distinctively based on the needs, thus,
improving the speed of construction and reducing the construction cost. This paper
also aims to cover the use of local materials in the different components of building
to make them as low cost available solutions for low income groups. To own a house
by middle and lower income groups in today’s economic trends is very difficult.
Therefore, it has now became a necessity to adopt cost effective, innovative and
environment-friendly housing technologies for the construction of houses and
buildings and availing them at low cost comparatively. In order to come up with
viable solutions this paper compares the construction cost for the traditional and low
cost housing technologies and it was observed that with the use of technology and

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reuse of waste material as building material the cost of construction can be

minimized to an extent. It was observed that with if the filler slab can be used as an
alternative to conventional slab the cost of construction can reduce upto 25 %. With
the time more studies are going to identify the reuse of waste material like fly ash,
rice husk, etc as building material. After realizing the true potential of these waste
materials as building material in construction industry the cost can be minimized to a
greater extent. In addition the building up of cooperative to supply those alternative
raw materials rather than importing from somewhere else would help in reducing the
cost by 20 to 30%. (Manjesh Srivastava 2017)

2.4. Summary

The research papers searched were based on the idea of affordability and the present models
being implemented by construction companies.

Amongst the most accepted definitions of housing affordability is taken as a measure of

expenditure on housing to income of the household. (Bahuguna 2020)

Agrostone panel reduces the cost of wall construction by 50% compared with the
conventional building materials. The pros and cons of Agrostone panel as well as the use of
other waste materials as a raw material to make the panel more sustainable, low-cost and
better properties are discussed. (Taffese, Low-Cost Eco-Friendly Building Material: A 2012)

Low cost housing is a new concept which deals with effective budgeting and following of
techniques that help reduce construction costs through the use of locally available materials
along with improved skills and technologies without sacrificing the strength, performance
and life of the structure (Kumar, 1999; Civil Engineering Portal, 2008).

2.5. Conclusion

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Safety affordable living condition, friendly environment condition, reduction of cost housing
during construction that affects low-cost housing. The study's methodology is presented in
the chapter after that.

Chapter three

Methodology

Aranya Community Housing, Indore, India | Low Cost Housing

 Architects: by Architect Balkrishna V. Doshi.

 Area : This housing settlement is 6 km from the city center. Aranya Housing that
spreads in 85 hectares with 6500 houses for 60,000 people,
 Year: 1983-1989
 Location: indora india

Aranya Community housing is a project designed by Balkrishna Doshi and the Vastu-Shilpa
Foundation for the Indore Development Authority. The master plan was developed in 1983 and
the project reached in 1989 a high developed phase
Aranya township is situated next to the Delhi-Bombay highway, 6km from the city centre of
Indore, India. The plan site measures approximately 1 km by 1 km. We talk about 6500 dwellings
and 60,000 inhabitants.

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Figar : 1 Aranya Community Housing

Figar: 2 INNER LANE OF ARANYA HOUSING

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Figure: 3 LOCATION OF ARANYA HOUSING

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Figar : 4 CONTEXT AND HIERARCHY OF ARANYA HOUSING

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Figar :5

Sheikh Sarai Housing by Raj Rewal, New Delhi

The Sheikh Sarai Housing is a complex of 550 units in South Delhi. Which is a low-rise,
high-density scheme that combines the diversity in the units with axial pedestrian networks
for a range of spatial and visual experiences. Also, that is based on the Self-Financing
Scheme (SFS) for the Delhi Development Authority (DDA). Since the 1970s, there was an
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increasing need to cater to the housing of the citizens in Delhi. Also in Delhi, with the
increasing strength of the professional and the trading classes in the cities along with
migration from two and three-tier cities, housing strategies had to be considered for the needs
of the middle-class group.

The Mass Housing Project

The Sheikh Sarai Housing is located in the Sheikh Sarai neighborhood in New Delhi. And the
site is about 35 acres. So the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) commissioned the
architect Raj Rewal to design a residential housing scheme for the middle and lower-income
group of people. Raj Rewal experimented with the Sheikh Sarai Housing Complex as one of
the earliest experiments on the topic of social housing applied to a big scale site. It fits into an
environment defined by the absence of symbolic features that characterize the site, which is
located on the outskirts of New Delhi.

Construction of Units

The housing complex’s development began in 1978 and was completed in 1982.
Subsequently, the Sheikh Sarai site was originally intended for the development of a
combination of LIG, MIG, and HIG housing units. However, due to financial constraints, the
Delhi Development Authority (DDA) introduced a new category of housing known as the
Self-Financing Scheme (SFS). Within this scheme, the allottees had to pay for their units in 5
installments over the period of the construction of the units.  As a result, people who signed
up for a unit were entered into a lottery and had the option of specifying their preferences for
unit type, layout, and location. The entire mass housing scheme is completely economically
viable because of the subsidized housing units and also because of the use of local materials
for construction. Finally, this increased the affordability of the apartments.

For the sake of completing the project, the housing units were classified into types. The
break-up of the units was as follows –

 Category 1 – 48 units (1 Bedroom).

 Category 2 – 557 units (2 and 3 Bedrooms) and MIG – 192 units (3 Bedrooms).
Categories 1 and 2 were under the Self-Financing Scheme (SFS). Raj Rewal was the architect
of the units in Sector D only, which consisted of the Category 2 units only.

Design Concept

Taking inspiration and connection with the historical cities like Udaipur and Jaisalmer in
Rajasthan. Also, the Sheikh Sarai Housing is the characteristic of the urban fabric of India. And
the design plans establish a clear concept of the close relationship between public and private
spaces. As a result, the design arranges the open spaces in a methodical hierarchy throughout

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The mass housing clearly is based on the Haveli Typology inculcating the traditional patterns
of urban space. On the other hand, these patterns are refined and perfected into ideal
ensembles of collective dwellings. Raj Rewal has masterfully taken advantage of the
irregularities on the site as every element offers a harmonious physical entity for living and
working.

Urban FabricBuilt Form 

of Sheikh Sarai Housing by Raj Rewal, New DelhiTo imitate a traditional urban settlement, low-
rise high-density walk-up flats are packed to form interior shaded streets linked by gateways and
open courtyards (traditional Indian architectural components) for public use, and as an expression
of style of the architect. The gateways, a common feature throughout the project, enabled a high
level of transparency despite the fact that it was a high-density development, making it legible for
the users.

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Movement and Flow

Clear demarcation of vehicular and pedestrian streets, limiting vehicular flow to the road’s
periphery with few access points along the road It improves pedestrian flow by puncturing
the built solids along the central spine. So that is defined as the parking spaces and flow of
traffic outside of the housing clusters. Moreover, there is a clear pattern connecting the
movement to space, from person to neighborhood, also pedestrian to vehicular. The
movement zones flow from the outer margins to the inner areas of the housing scheme,
overlapping accordingly to create access points along the periphery

Community Spaces 

Moreover, creating intimate courtyards connected to one another, embodying traditional

components of Indian architecture, to foster common areas for the community. The scale of
these courtyards manipulates to encourage more social activities and interaction among the
resident community, in addition to acting as social facilitators. So the individual to
community equation structures through a progression of private spaces to squares of various
sizes with shaded paths running throughout. Because every open space is meticulously
controlled and organized, there is no room for neglected green spaces. Thus, the open greens
are at the strategic places because they facilitate the orientation for the pedestrians.

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Clusters and Units

The massing of building blocks creates clusters with inner courts and inside shaded streets. Also,
the blocks of units connected. On the other hand, maintain the proper spacing between them and
creates a system of covered pedestrian streets and internal courts. The organization of the blocks
at Sheikh Sarai housing are also similar to the traditional medieval cities of Rajasthan

Six different types of units ranging from 70-120 Sq.m. (70 Sq.m., 95 Sq.m., 110 Sq.m. and
120 Sq.m.), organized in two different clusters, 3 and 4 story high. The units come in a
variety of sizes and types, ranging from studios to three-bedroom apartments. While the
differences are slight, the necessity for economy and design is evident throughout the interior.
Consequently, the apartments are tight, with no ambiguity of space caused by larger floor
spaces to negotiate from. Despite the closeness and clustering of both units, each room is
well-ventilated and well-lit, with an adjoining patio for each apartment. However, all the
units are provided with courtyards or rooftop terraces.

Areas of Spaces of Sheikh Sarai Housing by Raj Rewal, New Delhi

 Area of Intervention – 38195 Sq.m. ~ 3.82 Ha.
 Built Up – 12740 Sq.m. ~ 1.2 Ha.
 Surface Parking – 6622 Sq.m. ~ 0.66 Ha
 .Green Areas – 3931 Sq.m. ~ 0.39 Ha.

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Urban-scape at the site level, the architect developed the project by employing urban
strategies of articulated flows, segregated spaces and applied the same on the site level.
Therefore in a structured urban settlement. Raj Rewal designed the layout density at Sheikh
Sarai as 100 DU/ha which comprised about 11% greater than the master plan applications.
For instance, the compact dense development both on the ground floor and above maximized
the use of space.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Sheikh Sarai Project resembles the morphology of medieval Indian cities
and its white composition, intentionally modern, is reminiscent of Udaipur. Most importantly,
the housing scheme stands as yet another landmark in Delhi housing chronology and is
responsible for the DDA’s middle-income housing to reach the limelight once again.

References
https://www.architectural-review.com/buildings/revisit-aranya-low-cost-housing-indore-
balkrishna-doshi

Brian Brace Taylor, M. P. (1992). Sheikh Sarai Housing – New Delhi.

Retrieved from Raj Rewal Associates: https://rajrewal.in/portfolio/sheikh-
sarai-housing-new-delhi/

Gupta, S. (June, 1991). Housing with Authority : The role of public and

private architects in public housing in Delhi. Cambridge: Massachusetts
Institute of Technology.

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Kit, S. (2018, November 6). Research Project – Low-Cost Housing Issues

(Solution). Retrieved from Blogspot.com: https://samkit-
education.blogspot.com/2018/11/research-project-low-cost-housing.html

SiddhikaChichani. (March 26, 2018). POST INDEPENDENCE ARCHITECTURE

IN INDIASHEIKH SARAI HOUSING COMPLEX, NEW DELHI. Slideshare.net.

Singh, H. (August 12, 2015). SHEIKH SARAI HOUSING

COMPLEX. Slideshare.net.

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