HOUSE MODLES AND CONSTRUCTION

House model exhibitions are another way of mobilizing poor communities. This process marks the beginning of translating a dream house into reality through which the structural bias of existing knowledge processes is challenged and even reversed, in the politics of the SDI network. The general practice of state agencies, donors and even NGOs concerned with housing and urban planning has been to assume that the design, construction and financing of houses has to come from experts and professionals such as engineers, architects, contractors, surveyors and formal financial institutions.

Housing exhibitions are a frequently used strategy by major housing finance institutions for middle class housing in the city but the federation house model exhibitions become a democratic appropriation of such middle class practices. Community-based house model exhibitions form a crucial part of reversing this strategy. At large, open-air events attended by housing professionals, communities gather to show life-size house models designed and constructed by themselves. The difference is that these house models are life-size and not miniature modules. These exhibitions allow the poor (especially the women) to discuss and debate-housing designs best suited to their needs. It also allows them to enter into dialogue with professionals about construction materials, construction costs and urban services. This process helps the community to explore what adequate space and affordable cost means to them. Slum dwellers have always been the architects and engineers of their settlements. In many cities, local governments are now beginning to see that the urban poor can play a significant role in creating housing stock for low-income communities. This process allows communities to redefine their relationship with professionals in their city. It allows the community to translate their dream house to a blueprint and significant technical and design innovations have been developed through this process.

When land has been secured and finances made available, the Federations begin the actual process of house construction. There is no formula to house design, construction and management. In some cases the Federation concerned, having translated their dream house into a blue print, will contract out the development, either to community based guilds, construction companies or a blend of both. In other house construction will be conducted on a self-build basis, with families contributing the labour.

Tenure arrangements will vary as well, but quite commonly the agreements evolve from internal negotiation and evolve into hybrids of individual tenure with collective guarantees and protections.

In the course of the construction process, many of the skills conventionally assigned to professionals are assumed by the Federations.

Federations in Kenya, India, South Africa and Philippines have made important innovations in terms of design, building materials and construction processes. These have ranged from new technologies in India to the mass production of very cheap starter homes in South Africa.

HOUSING STATISTICS

Houses constructed:

SA:15,000
Namibia: 2,000
Zimbabwe: 1,000
Kenya: 500

India:35,000
Thailand:20,000
Cambodia: 3,500
Philippines: 3,000