Thesis Defense - Valerio Musiitwa (MSARCH)

Valerio Musiitwa - M.Sc. Architecture

Assoc. Prof. Murat Şahin- Advisor

EVALUATING HABITABILITY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS IN NAIROBI-KENYA

Date: 31.07.2019

Time: 14:00

Location: AB2 113

Thesis Committee: 

Assoc. Prof. Murat Şahin,  Özyeğin University

Asst. Prof. Ebru Karahan,  Özyeğin University

Assoc. Prof. Senem Kaymaz, Yıldız Technical University

Abstract

As Nairobi and several cities within the Global South continue to experience severe housing shortages, policymakers and urban authorities are in constant pursuit for housing interventions that are not only adequate towards the needs of low-income urban households but also meet the affordability thresholds of these households. This study’s purpose is the empirical assessment of habitability based on criteria such as physical housing characteristics, quality of architectural space and locational variables for representative affordable housing projects in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital over the last 30 years. This assessment seeks to fill a gap in the literature as no studies have approached residential evaluation from a theoretical perspective of ‘meaning of housing’ within the Kenyan context. The gist of this theory draws attention to how users derive satisfaction through the meanings they attach to their residential environments. Furthermore, there is lack of studies tackling the subject of housing habitability through a combined methodological approach of using a habitability assessment index to elicit dwellers’ subjective perceptions of their housing, as well as assessing whether habitable spaces in the housing meet minimum dwelling standards based on local, national and global specifications. Habitability is theoretically developed and operationalized using Amos Rapoport’s 1982 work, The Meaning of the Built Environment that explores peoples’ relationships and links to their dwellings, and how meaning provides the rationale for how dwellings are shaped and used. Rapoport's work is enhanced by categorizing meaning into three overlapping sub-themes of the functional, social and symbolic meaning of housing, with each discussed in detail. It is though the functional meaning of housing that the habitability theory is developed.

Data was gathered through a fieldwork exercise in Nairobi during April and May of 2019, using tools that included questionnaires, semi-structured interviews for planning professionals, on-site observations and analysis of architectural documentation (housing layouts and site plans). A systematic sampling procedure, where household heads from every 10th unit within each development were adopted, resulting in a total sample of 92 respondents from three representative housing projects. The respondents’ perceptions were sought through a 27 item questionnaire, developed from a synthetic habitability index. Findings revealed that respondents perceived particular habitability attributes such as locational variables (relation between housing and the city center, workplaces and public amenities), the sufficiency of privacy, circulation and access efficiency, and acoustic quality to be stronger attributes. Poorly performing attributes included the adoption of universal access principle, sustainable strategies adoption, and sufficient ventilation while the remaining habitability attributes like lighting, height and density, material selection, circulation, room number, and sizes were averagely rated.

Three checklists were further developed to assess adequacy of habitable spaces against minimum dwelling standards. Although results indicated spatial inadequacy and overcrowding with respect to one checklist, adequacy was achieved regarding the two other checklists. The study concluded that KENSUP Soweto Zone A, the newest amongst the three projects performed better, followed by Kibera Nyayo highrise while Pumwani Majengo users found their housing units least habitable. Finally, policy analysis revealed slight lukewarm attention towards habitability, while interviews with planning professionals revealed mixed results, with state housing officials more inclined to consider public housing habitable than public health or independent architects. Several recommendations are then made towards the realization of more habitable public affordable housing projects.

Bio

I hold a Bachelor of Environmental Design; Architecture major received in 2013 from the Faculty of the Built Environment at Uganda Martyrs’ University in Nkozi - Uganda. I then moved on to work with UDesign Architects in Nairobi – Kenya from January of 2014, participating in design and construction of a number of projects spanning from hospitality, housing developments, and concept proposals for new competitions. I enrolled into the Master of Science in Architecture program at Özyeğin University in February 2018, with my research focusing on spatial analysis and design of housing, informal settlement studies, as well as affordable housing issues in the Global South under the instruction of Assoc. Prof Murat Şahin.