Development of Quality Indicators of Housing Design (QIHD), an Approach to Improve Design Quality of Affordable Housing

Abstract

This research has been conducted to determine the design quality indicators and parameters for affordable housing in Karachi Pakistan. The absence of quality in Karachi housing resulted from various factors ranging from policy failure, violation of bylaws, population, housing scarcity and non availability of quality parameters etc. The amalgamation of these factors eventually lowers the quality of housing and ultimately results deficient housing design and construction. Because of this trend the end users experience the nuisance of unplanned maintenance and bear the tax of heavy repair and reworks. Significance of research has been accomplished through developing design quality models for both professional and users. This research has eventually evaluated forty eight (48) quality indicators for housing design (QIHD) from listed 65 design quality variables farmed in seven sections. This research concludes that existing design quality of affordable housing in Karachi could be enhanced through improving the design, construction, services, site development and neighborhood and sustainability. The QIHD model will provide the opportunity for design and construction professionals of city to rethink their housing design intellect in context of the housing quality.

Citation

Chohan, A.H., Irfan, A. and Awad, J. (2015), "Development of Quality Indicators of Housing Design (QIHD), an Approach to Improve Design Quality of Affordable Housing", Open House International, Vol. 40 No. 4, pp. 10-17. https://doi.org/10.1108/OHI-04-2015-B0003