Guidelines For Room Types In Low-cost Housing With Reference To The Highland Climatic Region

Abstract

It is the aim of this paper to provide guidelines on space requirements for various room types for urban low-cost housing. Many of the guidelines suggested will also be applicable for rural housing, whether constructed in traditional ways or by industrialized methods. The guidelines are meant for the following users: house designers, building contractors, technical staff of local councils, teachers at polytechnic schools (including village polytechnics) and for application to aided self-help schemes. background Housing shortage is endemic within the urban lowincome sector. This leads to: - rooms being sublet at the rate of one household per habitable room; - overcrowding of the individual rooms; - stress on service facilities like toilets, showers and kitchens; - circulation and access problems; - lack of privacy; Space requirements as laid down in the Building Code are based on the assumption that each multi-roomed dwelling will be occupied by one household only. Designing strictly in accordance with the Building Code's requirements does not therefore take the real problem of overcrowding into considpration. Sizes and configuration of rooms should be based on functional requirements and economical limitations rather than solely on the Building Code's wording. cost framework As mentioned above these guidelines are meant for the design of urban low-cost housing, which according to the Ministry of Housing and Social Services definition,means those categories of housing costing not more than Kshs 24.000/- per unit catering for the income groups earning not more than Kshs 800/- per month. It should be noted that with the present escalation in building costs Kshs 24.000/- is insufficient to provide a contractor built unit consisting of a kitchen, sanitary unit and two habitable rooms. As a consequence of the increasing demand for housing within the lowest income groups the bulk of Government funds for this Development Plan period is allocated to site and service, self-help schemes at an average of Kshs 10.600/- per plot unit at 1974 prices.