TECHNOLOGICAL CHALLENGES TO IMPLEMENTING AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING POLICY

By Javed Sultan

President, Kinoo Inc., 675 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. (www.kinoo.com)

INTRODUCTION

More than three quarters of the world's population lives in slums without adequate shelter and proper sanitation. South Asia is home to almost one third of the world's inhabitants, two thirds of whom live in inadequate or makeshift accomodation. The failure to address the pressing need for shelter is caused not only by a lack of desire, or motivation, among both public and private institutions but also by the failure of the engineering community to provide an appropriate affordable housing solution.

In this series of papers the author, who is an architect and a civil engineer, will discuss some of the fundamentals that have led to this failure. Rather than deal with the better known socio-economic factors that are pertinent and central to affordability, the author will concentrate on the technological and engineering challenges to creating a viable and cost effective strategy. The papers will be structured as follows:

The first paper will summarize the affordable housing strategies available to the world at large and some of the shortcomings of those options.

The second paper will then define new building materials and delivery options that hold promise but require further research to overcome some of the traditional shortcomings of other and similar building and construction methods.

The third paper will discuss the pros and cons of the various housing delivery options. It will further discuss sustainable design and eco-friendly solutions, green architecture, and the importance of incorporating sustainable design strategies to any eventual affordable housing solution or solutions.

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PART I - Affordable Housing Strategy for South Asia- The Need for a Radical Approach

PART II - Affordable Housing Strategy for South Asia – Technology Options

PART II - Affordable Housing Strategy for South Asia – Sustainable andEnergy Efficient Design Options

The entire article is available in 2005 issue of Sarid Journal, at http://www.saridjournal.org/2004/sultan.htm