Core Housing Strategy for Improved Urban Low-Cost Public Housing Delivery in Anambra State, Nigeria

Anambra state of Nigeria experiences acute housing shortage for urban low-income population owing to inefficient public housing delivery system principled on conventional full-provision house types. Insufficiency of funds for housing development is a major cause. Increased rate and scale of housing production and volume of housing stock have been stalled. Low-income households are adversely affected, being priced out of the limited stock. Core housing, a partial-provision strategy believed to require less financial resources has been neglected. This research focused on the potentials of core housing strategy in financial cost-saving and other aspects of public housing products’ performance. Components of public housing products’ performance and the measuring variables were first outlined; followed by a review of the relationship between core housing and the variables, which was apt and revealing. This study has widened knowledge and prepared grounds for empirical studies of core housing performance in Anambra State public housing sector.

Embracing the Block

<p>With an estimated housing shortage of 150,000 homes in 2020, New Zealand is in urgent need of a new housing solution to keep up with demand. Given that families make up 70% of New Zealand households, attracting families towards inner-city living is the key to decreasing housing shortage and managing urban growth. The research investigates a housing model that is underutilised in New Zealand, but has the potential to accommodate families in high-density central city developments. The European Perimeter Block (EPB) is a housing model prevalent in Europe’s largest cities, providing highly liveable urban housing at relatively high densities. Analysis of traditional EPB literature, contemporary EPB precedents and best-practice apartment design is combined with analysis of the New Zealand context to develop an extensive list of design strategies and criteria. This list provides a framework for the design of EPB housing in New Zealand cities. A subsequent design case study tests the applicability of the design strategies and criteria on a successful high-density housing development in Auckland’s CBD, with a focus on providing an attractive inner-city lifestyle for New Zealand families. The resulting outcome is a concise set of design criteria and a repertoire of strategies to usefully inform the design of an attractive EPB housing development in New Zealand cities.</p>

Embracing the Block

<p>With an estimated housing shortage of 150,000 homes in 2020, New Zealand is in urgent need of a new housing solution to keep up with demand. Given that families make up 70% of New Zealand households, attracting families towards inner-city living is the key to decreasing housing shortage and managing urban growth. The research investigates a housing model that is underutilised in New Zealand, but has the potential to accommodate families in high-density central city developments. The European Perimeter Block (EPB) is a housing model prevalent in Europe’s largest cities, providing highly liveable urban housing at relatively high densities. Analysis of traditional EPB literature, contemporary EPB precedents and best-practice apartment design is combined with analysis of the New Zealand context to develop an extensive list of design strategies and criteria. This list provides a framework for the design of EPB housing in New Zealand cities. A subsequent design case study tests the applicability of the design strategies and criteria on a successful high-density housing development in Auckland’s CBD, with a focus on providing an attractive inner-city lifestyle for New Zealand families. The resulting outcome is a concise set of design criteria and a repertoire of strategies to usefully inform the design of an attractive EPB housing development in New Zealand cities.</p>

Mechanical and durability properties of adobe blocks filled with date palm wastes

Purpose Earthen construction does not meet today’s requirements due to certain limitations such as low water resistance and its high vulnerability to cracking damage. The purpose of this study is to improve the mechanical properties and low durability of adobe blocks by incorporating date palm wastes as a natural reinforcement and lime as a stabilizer. Design/methodology/approach Soil from the region of Biskra in Algeria was mixed with sand and lime in suitable ratios. Then, date palm wastes were added to the previous mixture at different ratios (0.3%, 0.6% and 0.9%) by dry mix weight to manufacture adobes. Cubical and cylindrical specimens were prepared and tested in a laboratory to investigate the curing time, mechanical and durability characteristics of the formulated blocks. In addition, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) tests were used to identify the materials. Findings It has been observed that the addition of lime to the soil is very beneficial for its stabilization, in particular for an optimum of 12%. The presence of date palm waste in the mixture (soil + lime) generated a significant improvement in tensile strength reaching a rate of about 67%. The same observation was made for the tests of resistance to dry abrasion, resistance to erosion, attack by external sulphate and wetting/drying. However, for cases of compressive strength, water absorption and swelling an unfavorable effect was recorded. Originality/value Based on the above-mentioned findings, this paper presents a novel solution to increase the durability of adobe materials using date palm wastes with oven curing at 65°C for about nine days. Adopting such an approach would certainly encourage building durable mud housing on a large scale. This can contribute to solving the acute housing shortage, particularly in poor countries.

Redesigning the Iglu| ᐃᒡᓗ : towards an architecture of Inuit dwelling in the 21st century

The Canadian North has gained significant interest as of late due to expansive availability of natural resources, and the opening up of commercial shipping routes, resulting in economic and development potential. There is thus a demand to develop and build, but this has often occurred with little vision while the extreme conditions of this region make viable inhabitation a challenge. Presently, the Inuit who have maintained a sustainable way of life in the Canadian North have seen their lifestyle and culture erode due to rapid modernization, resulting in numerous challenges and no resolutions. One such challenge is the absence of affordable, adequate, and cultural appropriate housing, complicated by a housing shortage and a growing population. In order to ensure successful inhabitation in this region, a reinterpretation of the contemporary Inuit home is required. The following thesis project |explores how the adoption of a regionally responsive architecture responds not only to economic and environmental conditions, but reinforces the unique cultural identity of the Inuit.

Redesigning the Iglu| ᐃᒡᓗ : towards an architecture of Inuit dwelling in the 21st century

The Canadian North has gained significant interest as of late due to expansive availability of natural resources, and the opening up of commercial shipping routes, resulting in economic and development potential. There is thus a demand to develop and build, but this has often occurred with little vision while the extreme conditions of this region make viable inhabitation a challenge. Presently, the Inuit who have maintained a sustainable way of life in the Canadian North have seen their lifestyle and culture erode due to rapid modernization, resulting in numerous challenges and no resolutions. One such challenge is the absence of affordable, adequate, and cultural appropriate housing, complicated by a housing shortage and a growing population. In order to ensure successful inhabitation in this region, a reinterpretation of the contemporary Inuit home is required. The following thesis project |explores how the adoption of a regionally responsive architecture responds not only to economic and environmental conditions, but reinforces the unique cultural identity of the Inuit.