4.232J / 11.444J - Graduate Subject
4.233 - Undergraduate Subject

We will explore the emerging strategy of incrementally expanded core-starter housing, which is considered to be one of the few – if not the only – effective proactive strategy for addressing the housing demands from the expected population explosion of Third World cities.

Respected studies predict a doubling of population with a tripling of urban growth in Third World cities by 2030. Sloganized as ‘building all of the urban housing of the past 6,000 years but this time in 20 years.’ – this demands a fundamental shift in practice and strategy. Even if the reality of the next 20 years is less than feared, the trend is clear: there is a tremendous need for housing, with concurrent demands on land with severe consequences on urban expansion. Costs of building ‘instant’ housing are prohibitive. Continued focus on upgrading informal areas dooms us to expensive, after-the-fact disruptive strategies. Capitalizing and expanding on the incremental expansion process suggests ways for cities to guide their growth in partnership with the many informal and formal homeowners. Cities are challenged to provide vital infrastructure and services, while incremental development offers an option of housing, and often with a density increase promoting compact cities and lowering demand on scarce urban land.

Incremental construction and expansion of housing is the key process of increasing housing stock and housing quality in most cities. In rapidly growing cities informal building and expansion – the pay-as-you-go process – is the dominating pattern, particularly in the majority low-income sectors. Their simple starter makeshift ‘cores,’ transform themselves to surprisingly good quality ‘middle-income’ housing given sufficient time and limited constraints. But they do not stop there, but often add extra units which are a net gain to a city’s housing stock while providing rental income to the families. Formal housing often exhibits the same expansion process from a different starting point, and with equal advantages.
Information now emerging shows that incremental growth offers a strategic opportunity for an effective increase in housing supply and quality. The informal incremental/staged process of housing growth has not been embraced nor well understood in the past, but new studies have traced the long-term growth and expansion benefits.

Core-house/starter house programs for the low income had been formally adopted in the 70s led by the multi-nationals – World Bank, United Nations, and bi-laterals. However, these ‘site and services’ projects lost favor, in part for failure to recognize the inherent long-term process. Studies now suggest their efficacy and ‘champions’ have emerged for revisiting this approach which is slowly being adopted worldwide. The studies also point out issues that need to be addressed; for example, the quality of individual self-managed house expansion is often deficient, with serious consequences, particularly in disaster prone areas, and the difficulty in locating projects. Parallel demands on infrastructure are not well considered, which directly impact city development.

Agencies involved in rebuilding after disasters have embraced a strategy of ‘relief with development’, linking the emergency measures to long-term reconstruction. Essentially this is in support of the efficacy of the incremental development process, and points to the value of an incremental strategy for housing, applicable to cities as well.

TOPICS:

Each week the course will address specific aspects of core housing:

• The Third World Housing Challenge – and the Core House Hope?
• Examples of Core Houses; Informal sector vs development agencies
• A continuum model for core house programs: from shacks to multi-story options
• Metrics: how to decide if any good? Assessment of core house proposals
• I: Design of the basic core. Spatial issues and implications, using cores to build community
• Construction issues: Designing for change
• Participatory design: involving users in design, alternative role of professional
• II: Design of the spatial frame. Considering land values, parallel incrementally provided infrastructure, spatial plan is a fundamental
• III: Supporting policies. A three stage model of support: initial development, economic support, long-term vitality; speed, scale, safety, livelihood
• Issues: Not all is perfect; land a continuing issue; considering ultra-poor
• Rebuilding after disasters – a special case? Banda Aceh, Haiti experience
• Does it work? Monitoring, how to measure: a longitudinal survey model

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

• Participants will learn the fundamental issues related to ‘core-starter’ house policy and design. They will be familiar with all aspects from design of the core house, the associated development frame, and supporting policies.
• Participants will explore appropriate situations for use of specific core house options.
• Participants will be exposed to the tradeoffs in proactive incremental policies.
• Participants will learn and explore the metrics for judging proposals.
• Participants will have a basic awareness and background on Third World housing issues, particularly ‘site and services’ low-income housing projects and upgrading projects, and an understanding of the context in which projects are prepared.

STRUCTURE OF CLASS:

Topics are arranged on a weekly basis. Dependent on class enrollment, teams debate issues and prepare prototype alternatives related to weekly theme. An ‘action-learning’ strategy reinforces understanding through weekly challenges.

The web site: web.mit.edu/incrementalhousing will be the primary reference for the class. Examples from practice will provide additional resources for discussion and debate. Occasional Skype sessions with practitioners currently engaged in the field will bring in current ‘real-world’ experience.

DELIVERABLES:

A final paper is required which develops a prototype ‘core starter’ house strategy with an associated spatial project frame with staged infrastructure, and supporting community and dwelling policies. Short exercises will be required from time to time to reinforce topic understanding. The ‘finals period’ is set aside to evaluate the prototypes developed in the class.

GRADING:

Participants are expected to be actively engaged and committed. Formal grading is based on participation in class discussions (30%); completion of short exercises for class presentation (30%); final paper with prototype concept (40%).

The course will provide the background for a Training Session at the 6th UN World Urban Forum to be held in Naples, Italy, September 1-7, 2012. Additional sessions are being explored: a debate on appropriate role of universities in rebuilding after disasters, and a DIY exhibit of incremental growth. Dependent on funding, class members will have priority for preparation and participation in the Forum sessions.

Note the contribution in the previous UN World Forum 2010 in Rio:
http://web.mit.edu/incrementalhousing/WUF-Rio/index.html