Kumar Dhar, T; Sk. Maruf Hossain, M and Rubayet Rahaman, K (2013) How does flexible design promote resource efficiency for housing? A study of Khulna, Bangladesh. Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, 2(2), pp. 140-157. ISSN 2046-6099
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to highlight the importance and significance of design strategies to enhance flexibility as an in-built design concept of residential building in developing countries. The study considers potential directions of building design in developing countries to ensure maximum benefits of resource utilization. Design/methodology/approach – The study approaches using the qualitative data collection method, mostly based on interviews of local residents. Layouts of residential buildings that have been renovated for several reasons, such as the changes in family size over the last 30 years, have been studied. The concept of zone and margin, based on the theoretical framework developed by Dutch architect, John Habraken, is compared and tested in residential buildings in the city of Khulna. Findings – This paper shows that people change floor layouts of their buildings over time for different reasons; for example, 29 percent of people change plans in order to accommodate more people, 19 percent in order to initiate new businesses, and 13 percent due to change in family structure. However, these facts impose an excessive monetary burden on the owners to re-adjust layouts even though the building does not have the provision to do so. The paper also reveals that people would welcome new plans for future readjustment during the design and construction phases instead of renovation phases. Originality/value – This paper highlights flexibility and attempts to justify the possibilities to practice in developing countries. As an inherent design strategy of sustainable development, the concept would consider unknown future changes of building layouts and structures. It would consider the minimum reconstruction, or renovation, costs associated for future adaptation.,
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | design flexibility; developing country; housing design; Khulna City; Bangladesh |
| Index terms: | resource utilization, reconstruction, residential building, building design, owner, adaptation, renovation, resource efficiency, Bangladesh, design and construction, architect, interview, developing country, design strategy, sustainable development, housing design, methodology, housing |
| Subjects: | research methods, renovation and retrofit, management, design process, development economics, Geography, health safety and environment, sociology, building construction, user focus, profession, construction type, data collection methods, design methods, architectural design, site logistics, contractual arrangements |
| Topics: | Procurement, Construction Technology, Roles and Professions, Stakeholder Management, Research Practice, Geographical Context, Engineering Principles, Business Strategy, Health and Safety, Site Management, International Construction, Design Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here