ABOUT FLEXIBLE HOUSING

Flexible buildings or spaces might be an idea that might change the livelihoods and structure of cities. Space is associated with time. Relative to the time space changes or relative to the space there is utilization duration (time). Considering this behavior there is a reliable scope to save space. Let the space change relative to the time we use it, so the largest limited resource will not go waste.

Here we are going to discuss about flexible housing as a housing solution. There are key questions that can be asked, one: how many of us felt the house was shrinking or expands its uses while we grow up? Means for a married couple the house might be adequate. But while a kid comes they need to create new spaces or after their marriage the demand of spaces will be more, or when they leave the demand will be low; second, do you think that we use any space whole time? The answers are leading us to see the space as a commodity. Sell the room, ahh. The solution is too simple that it must have some characteristics of Dogon Tribe. Yes, Dogon Tribe in Africa, it got some of the characteristics that we think off.

INPUTS FROM DOGON TRIBE

Everything in this world has a history, no matter good or bad. Sustainable Character has been achieved through evolution or through experience, which is a fact. Even flexibility concept also have a historical linkage to past. This very well tell us that this is not the first thought. Let’s review the legends. 

Site Plan of Dogon House compound, Mali, African Tribe [14]

Dogon House, Mali, African Tribe[14]

The tribe follows joint family system. The entire system has planned in such a way resembling the human body, as we see in 'Vaastu Shastra' in India. The head kept at northern end, which accommodated with Men’s meeting house. Below is the Chest, we see the family houses which will vary in numbers depending on the population size.  The hand was represented through Women’s house, which is nearer to work area for oil crushing, which is representing the female sex organ. Adjacent to it there is male sex organ towards east, which is Village Altar. Towards the south feet is located, which represents the Altars. All the agrarian or pastoral space is located surrounding this space. So the feeling of safety and security also present. The spaces are seems to be climatically oriented as the living spaces are oriented towards north. The expansion and contraction happen within securely. The chest had taken more are for this purpose.  

Spaces are moulded with culture and climate ranging from a single space used, to the whole gamut of the family rituals, to a collection of individual cells arranged around a courtyard. The system of individual huts arranged into and an open space which is extremely flexible, because of the use of hut can be varied according to the circumstances. Here each hut constitutes a room and whole compound constitutes the dwelling.

This is the very idea of the modern apartment plans in which a central hall gives on to a number of undifferentiated rooms that can be adopted for various purposes – Open floor plans, flexible space of modernism, where the spaces are divided through curtains and screens. And the spaces are socially divided through significant symbolic and cultural understanding. Other major impact is technology.

PAUL HEREFORD OLIVER

Paul Hereford Oliver is an architectural historian and writer. He has argued that “vernacular architecture will be necessary in the future to "ensure sustainability in both cultural and economic terms beyond the short term." He is well known for his 1997 work Encyclopaedia of Vernacular Architecture of the World. Spanning 3 volumes and 2500 pages, it includes contributions from researchers from 80 countries. As of 2005^[update], he was at work on a book to be called the World Atlas of Vernacular Architecture.

Paul Oliver noted in his book: Encyclopaedia of Vernacular Architecture and book on vernacular housing, dwellings. Oliver notes that; there were several demands for the people with respect to time on the structure they live in. Some of the important forces are challenging family size and structure irrespective of whether nuclear or extended, to take care of young children and the infirm, and the death of the aged.

DESIGN QUALITIES OF FLEXIBLE HOMES

If there is less space, then that space has to be used in efficient and flexible manner. The attention of Dutch Architects such as Willem Van Tijen, Johannes Van den Brock and Mart Stam turned to overlook in to process of use – Changeability of use. Not only for the duration of one day but also for the specific conditions of each member of a family and potential changes during the life time. Internal variability of spaces was the key element in this work. Their desire was to make minimum size apartments as tolerable and cheap as possible.

The key idea derived by them is;

“Design in a way that the dwelling can be regrouped and arranged according to the needs of the respective hour of the day.”

There are five features for flexible design. They are just mentioned below;

Adaptable[3]

Flexible interior partitions with a stable supporting outer shell

Universal[3]

Any type of building use can be accommodated. This is the key idea of open floor plans and typology free design.

Movable[3]

Movable flexible buildings consist of reloadable or repositionable structures or buildings capable of being torn down and reassembled in another location.

Responsive[3]

Responsive buildings can respond to a number of external stimuli, including, but not limited to, energy/environment, interaction, usage, or occupation.

Transformable[3]

Characterized by modular design (capable of adding or removing units or components) transformable structures can also open and close, change form or change colour.

Nature of Interior Spaces

Architects cannot provide a fixed a fixed solution which never be a good design solution. An architect must understand the user for the present as well as future. Down showing an example for flexible room – have the ability to change with respect to time. The room can carry to anywhere. The rooms interior is so flexible in such a way can accommodate most number of activities in full length of day. If we look closer you can find that spaces are hidden, it’s coming out only when there is a need.

Concept of Flexibility [4]

ADVANTAGES OF FLEXIBLE HOUSING

1. ·         The lowest income population also could afford, through to customized mass production methods.
2. ·         The flexibility is seen as something that gives the user the choice as how they want to use the spaces instead of architecturally predetermining their lives.
3. ·         In the words of the French architect Arsène-Henri, flexible housing provides ‘a private domain that will fulfil each occupant’s expectations’; it is not about designing allegedly ‘good’ or ‘correct’ layouts but aims to provide a space which can accommodate the vicissitudes of everyday use over the long term.
4. ·         Modernism is interested in prefabrication, fast construction and new models of habitat. Hence flexible housing is in positive direction. Because it follows both.
5. ·         Human behaviour and environment are dynamic in nature. Since there is an uncertainty in the decision of people. Hence we can conclude flexible housing as a solution.
6. ·         Home is a product; it is definitely one of its natures to carry wherever we want at times.

DISADVANTAGES OF FLEXIBLE HOUSING

1. ·         As an Independent home unit we don’t have anything to worry about. But in case of collective the home at the centre might not have the flexibility to expand their shell; then the solution will be to change the location. It is a need to research and create interesting collective patterns for this purpose.
2. ·         The demand increases the price for the module also might increase. So the affordability is uncertain.

CONCLUSION

         It is definitely the future, even if we think of settling in mars. Today’s the industries moving towards mass customization using futuristic technologies, now think of homes. Every structure will have a stable shell, services and flexible interior arrangement. Shells and services also can be transformable. One basic idea is that the kitchen and certain services can be rigid and other spaces can occur around.

References

1. Adrian Leaman and Bill Bordass, 2004, Flexibility and adaptability (chapter) , ‘Designing Better Buildings - Quality and Value in the Built Environment’, Edited by Sebastian Macmillan, Spon Press.
2. Andrew Apter , "Griaule's Legacy: Rethinking" Clear Speech "In Dogon Studies," African Studies , 2005/1 (No. 177), p. 95-129. URL: https://www.cairn.info/revue-cahiers-d-etudes-africaines-2005-1-page-95.htm
3. Flexible housing: opportunities and limits; Tatjana Schneider and Jeremy Till, theory, arq - vol 9. No 2. 2005, page: 157-166
4. Flexible housing; Tatjana Schneider, Jeremy Till; Elsevier, 2007
5. Flexible solutions for small spaces in spatial design teaching, asst.Prof. Didem Bedük Tuncel, Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Faculty of Architecture, Department of Interior Architecture, Meclis-i Mebusan Cad. No:24 34427 – Fındıklı /•STANBUL/TURKEY
6. http://archiguide.free.fr/AR/arsenehenry.htm
7. http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/43352
8. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Oliver
9. http://thewaywelive.wordpress.com/2007/11/15/flexibility-in-architecture/
10. http://www.afewthoughts.co.uk/flexiblehousing/index.php
11. http://www.cmhc.ca
12. http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/buho/flho/
13. http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/inpr/afhoce/tore/afhoid/fite/remo/index.cfm : contains data for advantages of flexible housing
14. http://www.crystalinks.com/dogon.html ,Accessed on 09/04/2018
15. http://www.studiodub.co.uk/projects/residential/microlofts.php?id=2
16. https://thewaywelive.wordpress.com/2007/11/15/flexibility-in-architecture/ ,Accessed on 09/04/2018
17. Jeremy Till and Tatjana Schneider, 2005, Flexible housing: the means to the end, ARQ 9:3/4.
18. R.Asst.Hande Z.Altinok, Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Faculty of Architecture, Department of Interior Architecture, Meclis-i Mebusan Cad. No:24 34427 –Fındıklı/İSTANBUL/TURKEY
19. S.Chattopadhyay, 2009, New Essays on inclusive housing, Macmillion India Ltd.
20. Tatjana Schneider and Jeremy Till, 2005, Flexible housing: opportunities and limits, ARQ 9:2.
21. www.tempohousing.com