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Transformation of Housing in Nairobi Dweller-Initiated Transformations in Formal Housing in Nairobi with Case Studies of Kaloleni and Buru- Buru Estates
Abstract
Dwellers in public housing undertake transformations leading to compromised environments in city neighbourhoods. Architectural strategies do not envisage these trends and this has led to compromised environments. The study investigated these strategies and their contribution to the prevailing scenario through literature studies and empirical work. Key to these studies was tenets of social, economic, and physical attainment as central to the efforts for functional fulfillment. The case study strategy was used in Buru-Buru and Kaloleni housing estates of Nairobi. The findings confirmed the prevalence of the phenomenon and that despite the need for social and economic attainment in the neighbourhoods, the physical strategy surpassed the others as the basis for the quality of transformations. This re-affirmed the centrality of architectural strategies in formulation of sustainable dwelling neighbourhoods.
... (Bruggen et al., 2020, p.6). However, after a natural hazard, in the process of rehabilitation and reconstruction interventions, it is extremely hard to integrate some of these parameters, significantly due to its ill-suited nature to the norms, values and exact requirements of the victims (Makachia, 2010). Therefore, post-disaster reconstruction actions need to consider the long-term impact of temporary housing, especially their impact on the establishment of social cohesion, which is a key factor for a sustainable recovery in a dynamically changing society. ...
... Therefore, post-disaster reconstruction actions need to consider the long-term impact of temporary housing, especially their impact on the establishment of social cohesion, which is a key factor for a sustainable recovery in a dynamically changing society. The above-mentioned gap could be bridged with the integration of socio-spatial studies in the housing process (Makachia, 2010). Consequent to these statements, the need to integrate social parameters within the design has evolved. ...
... The human agent is at the heart of the system, with varying functional demands that are the subject of various design strategies. Nevertheless, the formal provider of temporary housing is just as alien to the Towards long-term sustainable performance of post-disaster housing reconstruction: Second life for temporary housing inhabitants and did not realise their desires, where the inhabitants would not be a part of the system, giving rise to transformations to fulfil their needs (Makachia, 2010). ...
The pressing human needs caused due to post-disaster effects may force donors to provide a roof above the heads of the displaced communities than focusing on fulfilling the references of a 'home,' which is a step toward restoring a certain sense of stability embedded with social, cultural, economic, and other interactions. And several displaced communities around the world continue to live in their temporary housing on a long-term basis. Therefore, this study aimed at investigating methods to consider a second life for the post-disaster temporary housing which may ensure long-term sustainable performance. A comprehensive literature survey has been carried out in attaining the aim. Many studies have found that the rapid post-disaster housing reconstruction strategies through universal working standards have become unsustainable and culturally unacceptable in the long term. Furthermore, in various instances, the real-life post-disaster temporary housing has been simply dismantled or abandoned due to the end of usage and cultural incompatibility, without giving any concern for future disasters. This could be minimised by transforming the donor initiated temporary housing into a permanent basis. To achieve this, scholars have identified the need of considering the socio-cultural and related physical needs through active involvement of affected communities. Therefore, to achieve prolonged use of temporary housing, the findings suggest that the social and cultural needs of communities and associated physical transformations need to be considered by the donors. The findings serve as a way forward to explore a transformational space that can accommodate social and physical transformations in post-disaster housing reconstruction.
... The position here is that political systems that adopt a nonaccommodative stance towards a people-centred practice in architecture and planning ought to be tasked to change. A full-blown encompassing of slums and dweller-initiated transformations (Makachia, 2013(Makachia, & 2012, the antithesis of conventional architecture, is not my stance. Instead, a research and design approach that revalorises predominant spatial and architectural trends within people-generated architecture should be adopted as a basis for redevelopment and upgrading of informally generated settlements within these cities. ...
... For master plan framers, the NUC premise was that the labour force needed to be stabilized to remove the migratory attitude associated to them (Nevanlinna 1996, 171). The closest operationalization of the theoretical concept was in Kaloleni estate that was planned with expansive 'green' courtyards ( Fig. 4), 'treed' streets, and was self-contained with social and commercial amenities (Makachia, 2012;Ogilvie, 1946). However, it provided meagre spaces in the dwelling units that were unresponsive to the African family set-ups and, as later-day observations illustrate did not anticipate the informal economy impetus of the contemporary African city. ...
... However, these positives have now been overwhelmed by the reality of African urbanisation. The reality includes informalisation encapsulated in the phenomenon of Dweller-Initiated Transformations (DITs) and the advent of the informal economy spatially defined in these extensions (Makachia, 2012). ...
... This is in spite of their legitimacy as alternative 02 T W O housing production models for urban areas. Despite the conspicuous physical environmental depravity documented in existing neighbourhoods in which DITs are dominant (Makachia, 2012), the financial innovativeness by individual to develop and reshape the urban landscape cannot be ignored. Instead, it can be the basis for developing and investing new housing in the Kenyan and other third world towns. ...
... The empirical 3 work aimed to establish the prevalence and understand the phenomena of housing transformations by individual dwellers in otherwise formal housing. However, central to all the discussions 3 Discussions of the fieldwork are captured in other publications 2010;2012). This however, was limited to only 100 randomly adminsterred questionaires and used predominantnly for descriptive statistics is the underlying economic motive in transformations. ...
... This, not only produced inadequate numbers of housing, but also generated poor physical environmental qualities. One other outcome was the dwellerinitiated transformations (DITs) that also introduced un-envisaged functions within neighbourhoods (Makachia, 2010;2012). The sustainable approach would involve the users at design, construction and management of the housing (Makachia, 2014). ...
... However, the home owners, instead of constructing only the servant quarter as required by planning guidelines of the estate, went ahead and erected commercial rooms and additional residential units. This led to proliferation of trade and other home-based enterprises (HBEs) within the entire residential neighbourhood (Makachia, 2010). ...
... The extension phenomenon has become a national issue in Kenya. In Nairobi, extensions have resulted in estates with compromised aesthetic, and environments devoid of desired physical comfort and social privacy levels (Makachia, 2010). Physically, the extensions are ill-lit, poorly ventilated, acoustically and environmentally polluted neighbourhoods (Ndung'u, 2008). ...
This study investigates the relationship between the spatial design parameters of plots with extension and the size of the extension in Buru Buru housing estate within Nairobi City County in Kenya. The spatial design parameters are defined by the physical and structural characteristics of the main houses and the plots and include the area (size) of the main house, number of rooms in the main house, plot size, plot width and length, among other factors. The study identifies the design parameters with significant contribution hence greater influence in the decision on the size of the extension. The methodology employed is a questionnaire survey, oral interviews and physical observation of the main houses and the plots with extension within Buru Buru estate. A sample of 59 plots with extension is selected and both factor analysis and stepwise linear regression methods are employed in data analysis. The results show that the number of functional rooms designed for the extension, the area around the main house, and number of adjacent streets to the plots with extension are critical design parameters in the decision on the size of the extension accounting for 66.3% of the variations observed in the size of the extension. The study recommends that the home owners and their designer architects should consider these spatial parameters among other factors as input in the extension design to alleviate overcrowding and congestion within residential housing estates in Kenya. ARTICLE HISTORY
... Mukuru is one of the largest informal settlements in Nairobi and is located near the city's main industrial area which provides employment (mainly as casual labourers) to many local people [21,22]. Buruburu is a nearby residential area established in post-colonial Kenya to promote house ownership [23]. ...
Background
Type 2 diabetes is increasing in Kenya, especially in urban settings, and prevention interventions based on local evidence and context are urgently needed. Therefore, this study aimed to explore diabetes risk and co-create a diabetes prevention theory of change in two socioeconomically distinct communities to inform future diabetes prevention interventions.
Methods
In-depth interviews were conducted with middle-aged residents in two communities in Nairobi (one low-income (n = 15), one middle-income (n = 14)), and thematically analysed. The theory of change for diabetes prevention was informed by analysis of the in-depth interviews and the Behaviour Change Wheel framework, and reviewed by a sub-set (n = 13) of interviewees.
Results
The key factors that influenced diabetes preventive practices in both communities included knowledge and skills for diabetes prevention, understanding of the benefits/consequences of (un)healthy lifestyle, social influences (e.g., upbringing, societal perceptions), and environmental contexts (e.g., access to (un)healthy foods and physical activity facilities). The proposed strategies for diabetes prevention included: increasing knowledge and understanding about diabetes risk and preventive measures particularly in the low-income community; supporting lifestyle modification (e.g., upskilling, goal setting, action planning) in both communities; identifying people at high risk of diabetes through screening in both communities; and creating social and physical environments for lifestyle modification (e.g., positive social influences on healthy living, access to healthy foods and physical activity infrastructure) particularly in the low-income community. Residents from both communities agreed that the strategies were broadly feasible for diabetes prevention but proposed the addition of door-to-door campaigns and community theatre for health education. However, residents from the low-income community were concerned about the lack of government prioritisation for implementing population-level interventions, e.g., improving access to healthy foods and physical activity facilities/infrastructure.
Conclusion
Diabetes prevention initiatives in Kenya should involve multicomponent interventions for lifestyle modification including increasing education and upskilling at individual level; promoting social and physical environments that support healthy living at population level; and are particularly needed in low-income communities.
... The area is home for a number of estates, including Buru Buru, housing both low and middle income groups. According to Makachia (2010), Buru Buru was earmarked for the then emerging middle-income group and adopted the mortgage housing financing delivery strategy. This was a departure from the Rental and the Tenant Purchase housing finance models that were popular in urban housing delivery then. ...
Transformations have led to questionable environmental qualities in housing neighbourhoods. Urban areas in Africa, and Kenya in particular are faced with an increased growth of planned settlements transforming into unplanned housing units. Most researches on housing transformations have concentrated on the dwelling units but little has been done on other aspects such as social amenities. The study therefore draws attention to this neglected aspect of transformation in housing and the reactions of dwellers towards the same. Buru Buru in Nairobi city formed the location of the empirical study. The study assessed user satisfaction following transformations of social amenities in Buruburu Estate, Nairobi City County. Data was collected using interview schedules from respondents drawn from residents and architects responsible for the transformation. Qualitative and quantitative data that used various techniques including structured interviews, digital photography and analyses of archival drawings and satellite maps were analysed using both qualitative and quantitative techniques. The findings showed that the user were very unsatisfied with the different social amenities in the estate. The conclusion was that social amenities should be developed at the beginning of the scheme. The study recommends inclusion of a possible model and clarification on the roles that professionals, developers and authorities need to play in any housing development in order to mitigate the phenomenon.
... The Romanesque style in England is traditionally referred as Norman architecture. Makachia (2010) contends that the church dwelling culture has influenced architectural paradigms from gothic, rennassance to Roman architecture in line with Christian belief and ways of life especially in monasteries. Combining features of Western Roman and Byzantine buildings, Romanesque architecture is known by its massive quality, its thick walls, round arches, sturdy piers, groin vaults, large towers and decorative arcades. ...
This research has explored the complexity of dwelling culture in Monasteries. The rejection of gospel by the global society because of cultural changes, deterioration of faith and technological advancement is becoming more apparent. Specifically, nuns and monks want to “come out” of the traditional Confirned monasteries and integrate with global communities. The Church hierachy is aware of the need to integrate evangelical enculturation and modern architecture for more coherent architectural designs which support people’s feelings to comprehend contemporary monasteries. Chamazi Camaldolese monastery in Tanzania was selected to be the case study area because it contains lot of information pertinent to the research issue. Selected data collection tools included questionnaires, interviews and photographic registration and were used successfully to collect all needed information for this study. The study examined and informed the diverse ways of integrating monastic dwelling culture and modernity. Modern time shows that there is a great need of a paradigm shift from the traditional enclosed monasteries to more opened monastic spatial planning and building designs. Information, Communication Technology (ICT) is a blessing in disguise in modern monastic life but should leave out all bad practices and pick constructive moral ideas and architecture which fits modern monastic ways of life of the modern church understanding.
Although human habitation in Eastern Africa dates back to the 1 st Millennium, urbanization was later. The earliest settlements were thus dispersed that were later densified culminating into urban formations interrogated here. This background is used to illustrate how spatial paradigms of antiquity informed subsequent developments and contemporary urbanism. The overarching themes used to understand the architecture of urbanism in Eastern Africa shall include: the Physical, Identity and Globalization. The physical expression of East African urbanism is through its morphology encompassing its architecture through aesthetics and technology. It invokes the natural environment, its exploitation and the primordial strategies of its management. It also seeks to situate the discourse of 'climate-change', sustainability and the broader economy. The basic premise is that the region and Africa has an identity crisis relating to its unique exposure to the Orient and Europe beyond its endogenous African roots. Expounded by Ali Mazrui (1986), this 'triple heritage' is extrapolated to architecture and urbanism. It further interrogates societal canons with regard to inclusivity and exclusivity of gender, race, faith and worldviews. Understanding region's urbanism invokes any linkages to rest of the world as technological innovations have made this inevitable. Globalization seeks to unify human political, socio-cultural and economic templates, and is increasingly extrapolated to architecture. Most notably is the unifying ideology of neo-liberalism. Though mooted and deep-rooted n economics and political systems, it is equally applicable to the structuring of cities. The position of the infusion of local content, hence 'glocalization', is a tenet explored in the series. This is part of a 3-lecture series that also includes: Urbanism (Lecture 1) and Commercial and Civic space (Lecture 3). The present lecture (Lecture 2), explores the roots and nature of Residential & Social space.
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