An Architectural Design Process for Housing in South Africa

Abstract

The government has provided low-cost housing since 1994 in South Africa. The housing has been efficient in the number of units but has proven ineffective in addressing the housing problem. This paper’s premise is that this is partly due to the limited architectural design process employed for the unit design, resulting in low-cost housing that cannot address the housing problem. This paper presents an architectural design process for a low-cost housing unit. The proposed redesign criterion is listed under two categories, namely ‘existing design generators’ and ‘emerging design generators’. The research findings indicate possible alternatives to the ‘matchbox’ house and that these alternatives can be achieved while remaining within the cost and size of the units currently provided. Furthermore, the research findings indicate that a neighbourhood of these redesigned units could potentially host a higher population density and a greater diversity in use and social inclusion.