Review Of The Theories That Have A Great Successful Impact On Housing

Housing is considered a vital need for all people around the world; where it reflects the stability of a community. Low-income housing units is an important aspect in housing; because people tend to suffer finding adequate solutions, support, and application for their needs. Various researches, theories, and applications were tested and applied regarding this issue, resulting in some success and failure cases. This essay discusses some theories that have a great successful impact on housing in general. Exploring in details “Khuda Ki Basti, Hyderabad, Pakistan” specifically, their strategy, how it was developed, and people reflection in the project. In this case, there is one main approach; which is creating an incremental development for the people and by the people. The project scheme was developed and adapted in various projects afterward. According to (AKDN, 2018), Khuda ki Basti is considered a successful project, it won Aga Khan prize in the 1993-1995 cycle.

Theory: Low-income housing is considered an essential topic where researchers, theorists, and practitioners have been working for a very long period of time to study and provide some adequate solutions. Turner & Fichter (1972), discussed the importance and impact of public participation in building their own units, encouraging people to build their own houses and neighborhoods; in order to meet their special needs and it suits their financial status. In an economic point of view “A squatter with a suitable building plot and secure tenure can and often do build a house which would cost twice as much if it were built by a government agency” (Turner & Fichter, 1972).

Which means that the owner-builder condition is considered a success specially in a low-income housing project. Incremental housing is a strategy used to solve housing problems in poor or low-income communities; by providing a long run solution that will reduce the continuous increase in population and creating new unplanned settlements. Incremental housing is considered a base where low-income people can elevate their living quality to a better condition gradually. UN Habitat (2014), stated that incremental housing projects have been adopted by some governments into programs called “site and service”; where they provide the land, infrastructure, and basic housing needs that people can not provide by themselves and make the place liveable. Afterward, the owners will catch up from there, improve and expand their housing unit based on their needs whenever they have access to resources; in order to upgrade their housing unit. This allows the public-owners to participate in building their own units, and it is significantly supported through managing the building expenses through adapting incremental housing strategy; where people build their houses based on their economic status. Incremental development is a strategy used not only in housing but also in infrastructure development; where it will develop in parallel growth to the demand of the users and facilities (UN Habitat, 2014).

There are many examples around the world for incremental housing, and public participation in housing projects. In this paper, the researcher will use “Khuda ki Basti, Hyderabad, Pakistan” as a case study, discussing various aspects in this incremental housing project.

Siddiqu & Zaidi (2009) stated: “Incremental housing development popularly known as Khuda-Ki-Basti (KKB) in Pakistan was first tested in Hyderabad in 1986 that was replicated seven times within Pakistan having been accepted as a successful model solving urban poor’s shelter problems. ”According to (Siddiqui, Serageldin, & Davidson, 1995), the project is located in a historical city, Hyderabad; the old capital of Sindh. Khuda-ki-Basti is considered as a part of Gulshan-e-Shahba that is 5550 acres in total, where Khuda-ki-Basti the gridded masterplan take only 147 acres that include four sectors, each is divided into blocks; creating 3000 plots with a total of 80 sq. yard for each plot. According to The Aga Khan Award for Architecture (1995), People renamed this portion to “Khuda-ki-Basti” or “Allah’s settlement”. Khuda-ki-Basti is located in an Arid climate, where the maximum temperature reaches 41 degrees C, and a minimum of 26 degrees. While winter temperature range from 25 to 11 degrees C. Also, Hyderabad has some pleasant breezes in the evening; because it is located in the lower Indus near the Arabia sea. Minimal rainfall occurs in July. (The Aga Khan Award for Architecture, 1995)

The project topography is considered a simple flat land adjacent to the river; where it is located near an important highway that connects Karachi and Hyderabad. Also, this strategic location allows Khuda-ki-Basti residents to enhance their economic conditions; because it is close to Kotri town and the industrial area of it. In Khuda-ki-Basti incremental housing scheme, the Hyderabad Development Authority (HDA) established an incremental housing development based on immigrants concept. The concept is based on the idea of illegal unplanned settlement; where people settle in a land and gradually support it with needed infrastructure. The concept was achieved reaching success; because it followed the pattern of unplanned settlement in a well-planned manner, reaching permanent housing units. In modern housing development, a developer support the land with infrastructure, housing units, and afterward, people come to this facilitated area and it will get inhabitants. In contrast, the incremental housing projects process is different, after site selection, the developer promotes it based on the strategy followed, people start to come to this new piece of land, build their houses, and infrastructure will be applied gradually.

According to (Siddiqui, Serageldin, & Davidson, 1995) In Khuda-ki-Basti, people are required to live in a reception area zone for 15 days, get screened by the HDA, and fulfill a down payment of 1000 rupees. Afterward, the family will be allocated to an unserviced land; where they need to start building/ constructing their house in two weeks using any materials that they can afford; some assistance can be provided from the HDA otherwise, the land allotment will be canceled. In order to own the land, the new owner should fulfill the payment of 9600 rupees throughout eight years, where a monthly amount should be paid; which will result in a serviced piece of land. The project was later handled to Saiabn; NGO. Usually, the first structure made is considered temporary using reed, wood, cardboard, and other light materials, just to create an adequate shelter that provides privacy. Afterward, a more permanent housing unit get built throughout the time; where people use bricks, concrete, and other permanent building materials. Majority creates a one-story housing unit, while 10% creates two stories units. In most of the houses, the land is used to its maximum, with a very rare case that provides courtyards to their houses. (Siddiqui, Serageldin, & Davidson, 1995). According to (Siddiqui, Serageldin, & Davidson, 1995), Khudi-ki-Basti is not like the unplanned settlements; because it is supported with a master layout, permanent land ownership conditions, and it is supported with infrastructure and services. Since the programme targets low-income people, continuous development of housing conditions exists. People take care of their houses through building, repairing, and sometimes enlarging it based on their condition and needs. With the absence of any building regulations and specifications, self-designed units represent uniformity of scale and proportions of the built context. Moreover, the decorative materials used to decorate the front facades.

Generally, people tend to decorate their houses using bright colors, adding some architectural features such as verandas that has an iron railing. The incremental development is not subsidized by any agency, and it is considered self-financed, some economic solutions were found to cut down some costs. For example, a single septic tank that linked to a pumping station is supported for every four houses. In the other hands, water supply is considered in better condition, where more than 70% of the housing units have an independent water connection, where the rest collect water from nearby located pipes. Electricity is also supported for the entire area. (Siddiqui, Serageldin, & Davidson, 1995)Khudi-ki-Basti is supported with educational, religious, health, transportation and some other facilities. According to (The Aga Khan Award for Architecture, 1995), Khuda-ki-Basti population was 20,000-25,000 between (1989-1990), where the average family size is 7. 24, and the average income is 1567 rs. The population is 100% Muslims, where 85% are Sunni's and 15% are Shia. The area has various amenities including 5 schools, 1 college, 8 mosques for Sunnis and Imambara for Shiah, post office, clinic, marriage hall, mini Cinema hall etc …

Moreover, transportation is considered a very important aspect since the location of the incremental housing development is located on the highway that connects both Karachi and Hyderabad. It is 12 Kilometers away from Hyderabad, 16 Kilometers away from Kotri town, and 1. 5 Kilometers away from Kotri industrial area. Affordable transportation service is provided throughout the route connecting it to the industrial area and to the cities nearby. (The Aga Khan Award for Architecture, 1995)Khuda Ki Basti development scheme is considered a successful project due to many reasons including facilitating the resources to meet low-income people needs, planning, and supervision; creating financially viable and it has strong community organization and spirit. CONCLUSION As a conclusion, incremental housing/ development, and public participation has a very important role in creating a strong, coherent, well-sustained communities. The Khudi Ki Basti attempt shows that understanding people’s needs allows the developer to work hand by hand with the users themselves, that resulted in using the same strategy seven similar applications around Pakistan.

According to Ali (2006), Sasti Basti is one the development that followed Khuda Ki Basti scheme. This reflects that the concept of upgrading low-income housing standard of living is considered an ultimate need and it requires deep understanding the users, their backgrounds, requirement, and of course their participation in the project will always have a positive impact in the project itself.