Space standardisation of low-income housing units in India
International Journal of Housing Markets and Analysis
ISSN: 1753-8270
Article publication date: 7 March 2016
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to develop a set of affordable space and dimensional standards for market-driven low-income housing in Indian context for the purpose of mass production using industrialised building system.
Design/methodology/approach
For this, the paper first explains the significance of standardisation from the literature and revisits the codes and contemporary practices in industrialised building system (IBS) in India. Next, it undertakes a market survey of ongoing/completed housing projects to study the space/dimensions reflected in the market demand by the people. After considering conditions like modular grid suitability and provisions of code, it identifies a set of dimensional standards of activity spaces, emerging from the market study. It also suggests a framework of modular units showing the incremental attachment possibility for component-based construction using IBS. These standards and design frameworks will make the path for developing various products and components towards an open system in India.
Findings
The paper gives an insight of the market trends of low-income housing, focusing on unit designs and spatial elements.
Research limitations/implications
Local contextualisation during the unit designs will be required and that is not addressed in this paper.
Practical implications
This will benefit developers, manufacturers, designers as well as policymakers towards a market-driven housing delivery using IBS.
Social implications
As a result of this standardisation, housing delivery will be faster and there will be more numbers of market-driven affordable housing in masses for low-income people, thus solving housing shortage.
Originality/value
A developing country like India is a diversified country having many geographical and social variations. Such standardisation for a space and design framework has never been attempted before and will make a contribution for the public housing sector.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Authors are thankful to the co-researcher of the Energy Efficient Built Environment at Jadavpur University for their support and also to Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee for allowing continuing the research at the institute.
Citation
Roy, U.K. and Roy, M. (2016), "Space standardisation of low-income housing units in India", International Journal of Housing Markets and Analysis, Vol. 9 No. 1, pp. 88-107. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJHMA-12-2014-0057
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited