Addis Ababa is experiencing a high rate of urbanization coupled with a decades-old housing crisis. This study problematizes the current housing problem not only in the frame of housing shortage but also as a ‘housing mismatch’, with the underlying dwelling typologies rooted in modernist design ideals not responding to context. These dwelling solutions, as seen in the recent condominium projects, do not fulfil the social and spatial requirements of dwellers. This problem calls for a thorough inquiry into tracing the roots of the ‘housing mismatch’. Since dweller-initiated housing transformations are a common phenomenon in most housing conditions in Addis Ababa, the study proceeded to analyze these transformations to understand the housing mismatch in its qualitative and spatial aspects. One of the reasons for dweller-initiated transformations is to finetune living habitats to cultural parameters. In line with this, transformations were observed during the test run of the fieldwork conducted on three households in 2020. Furthermore, the fieldwork revealed that dwellers used local conceptions of space such as the gibi, the gwaro and the gwada to explain the socio-spatial phenomena of transformations....

@en

The project focuses on the natural conditions, the industrial and housing situation in the haor region of Sylhet, Bangladesh. The aim is to create a new housing system suitable for rural areas, combining local industry and housing. This will increase employment opportunities, improve local living conditions and alleviate the problem of over-migration from rural to urban areas. At the same time, the new housing system is flexible, adjustable and adaptable, and is able to respond to seasonal variations in natural conditions and changes in local industries.

This project presents a solution where the Bede, a floating nomadic community in Bangladesh, can be preserved while simultaneously allowing space for the needs of the culture without having to hide their identity. It uses traditional and affordable techniques, preserving not only the Bede traditions, but also the traditional shipbuilding techniques of Bangladesh. In addition, the design improves the daily lives of this marginalised group.

This graduation project explores how design can improve the quality of life for women living in informal settlements in and around their homes in Sylhet, Bangladesh. Titled "A Safe Return," the project focuses on designing new housing for residents of the Sweepers Colony, an informal settlement in Sylhet, while also providing housing solutions for middle and high-income groups. The core aim is to enhance the lives of women through improved living conditions by ensuring safety through "eyes on the street" in public spaces, maintaining privacy within homes, and creating areas where children can play freely. It also seeks to establish spaces for communal gatherings from urban to unit scale, fostering connections with the neighboring Hindu community, and providing opportunities for self-development among women. Furthermore, the design incorporates private sanitation and washing facilities and introduces greenery to enhance the living environment. A significant aspect of the project is addressing the challenges posed by climate change, which plays a crucial role in designing the new neighborhood. The strategy spans multiple scales, from urban public spaces to urban clusters, and from clusters to individual units. "A Safe Return" aims to offer women a secure transition from their current living conditions in the informal settlement to their new homes, ensuring a significant improvement in their quality of life.

In (South) Asian countries such as Bangladesh, spaces that ac¬centuate transition have been playing a far more crucial role in architecture than in most other cultures (Singh, 2015). This inter¬mediate or third space, holds a transitional quality and is therefore in architecture called the transition space. It’s defined by the rela¬tionship of the extreme zones it’s connecting, like private versus public or internal versus external zones. Since these in-between spaces are so frequently passed through, humans are often not even conscious of the themes it has been signifying for centu¬ries: welcomeness, auspiciousness and prominence.

The transition space is full of social and cultural meanings, shaping people’s environment and everyday behaviour. For instance, in rural parts of the predominantly Islamic country of Bangladesh, transition spaces like courtyards reinforce the seclusion and se¬gregation of women by influencing the female movement both in public and private spaces (Chowdhury, 1992). Men are able to move freely through the public streetscape, while women avoid open fields and roads. Instead they’re circulating via the more private courtyards (anginas) where most female activities take place, like cooking and interacting with other women. Another transition space that’s found in most of these dwellings, is the front porch (baithak) which is primarily used for receiving male guests. Women mostly don’t feel at home in this space although it is a prominent part of their homestead, and thus making an im¬pact on their habits. Like for females, transition spaces also nota¬bly influence the lifestyle of children and the elderly by offering a more private space for daily activities and social interactions.

Besides social and cultural importance, transition spaces are de¬signed to respond to climatic needs of the tropical monsoon cli¬mate (Singh, 2015). To illustrate, courtyards provide ventilation and therefore facades facing the street can contain fever ope¬nings, enabling more privacy and creating an open, yet private environment. Transition spaces like verandas offer a greater spa¬tial quality by providing protection from harsh sunlight and ra¬infall. In addition, the direct infiltration of heat and glare into the interior is being prevented by the extended roofs, keeping these indoor spaces cooler. Since the in-between space functions as a buffer zone for (severe) climate conditions, a more comfortable transition for the residents is created and the liveable quality of inside spaces is significantly improved.

Transition spaces are capable of either dividing or connecting spaces since they act as a link between public and private spa¬ces (Singh, 2015). For example, at one level it’s able to achieve privacy by not placing entrances in direct contact with exterior spaces. On the other level, interaction is being promoted when the space is enclosed through an in-between space like courty¬ards. In either way, transition spaces are inevitably at the heart of living in many (South) Asian cultures such as Bangladesh. Late Indian architect Charles Correa even believes that a transition space like an open to sky place can make a significant difference between a liveable habitat and claustrophobia in small (low in¬come) housing. Taking into account the importance of transition spaces in Bangladesh’ architecture is therefore crucial. People specific themes like gender, ethnicity, religion and income are all playing a key role in the creation of meaningful transition spaces which affect and operate on various scales: the scale of a dwel¬ling, community and city.

An elderly-oriented affordable housing system in the context of Lakkatura tea garden, Sylhet, Bangladesh.

Children are the future. Providing a fostering living environment for the next generation in the favelas of Sao Paulo might enable them to break negative patterns of behaviour, so energy towards crime an violence is redirected towards productive ends for them and their communities. Gaining insight from the field of developmental psychology, this project makes a material parallel to the distinct developmental stages of children, as described by Erik Erikson. The neighbourhood consists of clustered dwelling groups, starting small and protective, but while the development of the child goes on, the further clustering of the dwelling groups provide a more dynamic environment for the child to grow further. A balance between protection and engagement, between order and chaos, will help the child grow up and develop the virtues of; Hope, Will, Purpose, Competency and Fidelity.

In São Paulo, Brazil, the urbanization of workers without education or a steady income has caused a large demand for social housing, with 800,000 families forced to live in settlements and slums without a legal basis. At the same time, the crime rates of the past decades brought forth a standard of ‘enclavement’ of urban blocks, with fences protecting shared outdoor spaces. These add to the segregation of a city that already has immense inequality. Although many have written about creating a safe living environment with architecture in the Western world, applications in the global south are lagging behind. This thesis explores how architectural design can positively influence safety in the periphery of São Paulo, taking into account socioeconomic segregation, local building practices, and social equity. For this, a literature review, a comparative analysis of precedents, a contextual analysis, and research by design are used. The design is made for Parque Cocaía, a greenfield site with environmental restrictions on the outskirts of the city, in Grajaú. It shows how the design of building types that foster the creation of communities, public space that invites life into the streets, and dwelling types that allow watching over the public realm and shared spaces can all contribute to a safer living environment. The design combines lessons learned from Western theory, social housing precedents, and the local context and thereby offers an alternative to enclavement as a means to assure safe living. Future research and design can build on this to prevent further segregation of Brazilian society.

Since the introduction of neoliberalism in the 1980s, housing has transformed from a social good to a market commodity, resulting in housing policies’ focus shifting from resilience to efficiency. The shift greatly affected the Global South, where an overwhelming amount of housing was, and still is, required (Syllabus Intro). Several initiatives aimed to counter the issue through approaches solely focused on resilience. These projects were, however, unable to produce the amount of housing needed. Subsequently, several housing experts recently argued that a trade-off between efficiency and resilience is required to challenge this global phenomenon.

The project investigates the balance between resilience and efficiency through a social housing development in São Paulo, Brazil’s largest city. Despite São Paulo not being a poor city, it has one of the world’s most inequitable distributions of wealth. One of the main symptoms of this inequality is a lack of sufficient housing. The project is in Grajau, one of the city’s periphery neighbourhoods. Heterogenous neighbourhoods, called favelas or irregular settlements, populate the district(Marques and Saraiva 2017, 21). Favelas often consist of dwellings that do not meet adequate housing standards according to Brazilian law. Still, these neighbourhoods provide an opportunity for impoverished families to have a house, presenting somewhat of a solution towards the Brazilian housing crisis.

The research concluded that Brazil’s large socio-economic gap and complicated political history are two of the primary catalyst for the country’s significant housing crisis. The Estatuto da Cidade (City Statute), developed after the fall of the dictatorship, acts as a legal framework to manage and improve the urban development of periphery neighbourhoods. The City Statute includes the Zones Especias de Interesse Social’ (ZEIS, Special Zones of Social Interest). ZEIS identifies areas where infrastructure and degraded properties can be improved, allocates space for public amenities and dedicates unused land for Social Interest Housing (HIS) and Low-Income Market Housing (HMP).

The central concern of the project is the lack of urban integration between Social Housing developments and their surrounding heterogeneous neighbourhoods (favelas and irregular settlements). A combination of fieldwork, theoretical research and comparative analysis, discussed throughout the report, was used to identify the problem. The project challenges the urban segregation between favelas and Social Housing through porous thresholds and careful boundaries. The approach is derived mainly from the work of German philosopher Walter Benjamin, Dutch architect Aldo van Eyck and Brazilian architect Hector Viglecca. The design applies porous thresholds and careful boundaries throughout all design scales, continuously considering the project’s socio-economic, managerial, and environmental impact.

As the Global South continues to rapidly urbanize, finding affordable and sustainable housing solutions is paramount. The Global Housing Graduation studio provides the opportunity to design new housing typologies through environmental and social lenses. São Paulo’s challenges with rapid urbanization and social inequality has left more than a million residents vulnerable to the impacts of water scarcity, lack of public infrastructure, climate, environmental risk, and climate change. Urban expansion during São Paulo’s economic boom in the 1970s led to a considerable increase of illegal land occupations in the city’s peripheries. The development of the informal settlements formed in the peripheries thus superseded the speed at which proper public infrastructure for potable water, sanitation and electricity could be implemented.

Residents in the peripheral neighborhoods occupy open land in areas of varying environmental risk, susceptible to soil degradation, flooding, landslides, and health risks due to waste discharge. They cannot access publicly supplied water or sanitation and must rely on water cisterns, illegal connections or self-made sanitation disposal to acquire the necessary infrastructure to lead a healthy life. These risks, in addition to the future risks of climate change, disproportionally impact those living in informal settlements, due to their social vulnerability and socio-economic status.

Development-induced displacement of residents within informal settlements is enforced by the São Paulo municipal government, to permit the implementation of public infrastructure such as water lines, sanitation, drainage, street paving, and the removal of housing structures in at-risk areas. While the purpose of displacement contributes towards a positive outcome - upgrading neighborhoods with much-needed services, or rehousing residents to safer environments – the social impact of displacement is palpable. Forced displacement may move residents away from their sources of income and social networks, considerably impacting their mental well-being or exposing them to financial precarity. Readaptation to new neighborhoods or lifestyles can also be difficult for residents.


The project seeks to create a balance between social and climate resiliency to address the challenges of environmental risk and resettlement. The project proposes a new social housing system, built on the principles of clustering and the Radburn Plan, to achieve an urban design which integrates public space with rainwater flows, public infrastructure, and housing. The project location, Jardim Campinas in Grajaú, São Paulo, is used as a framework for the urban system to rehouse displaced residents from various communities onto one site. The socio-ecological design approach is implemented at each scale – urban plan, sector, cluster, and dwelling unit. The design aim is a renewal of the urban fabric, by building upon existing social and ecological networks to reinvigorate social connections and relationships between natural and built environment.

São Paulo, like many other urban centers worldwide, grapples with a stark contrast in living conditions and spatial inequity between various income groups. Nowhere is this divide more evident than in the sprawling favela areas, where marginalized individuals face numerous challenges in their daily lives. The existing housing in these areas often lack essential amenities, basic infrastructure, and a sense of community. This spatial inequity and social injustice perpetuate a cycle of poverty and exclusion.

In this context, there is a pressing need to explore innovative architectural design solutions that not only enhance living conditions but also foster inclusive communities within São Paulo’s favela areas. The overarching goal is to bridge the gap between different income groups, create opportunities for marginalized individuals, and address the systemic issues that perpetuate this divide. This research aims to investigate how architecture can be leveraged as a tool for social change, aiming to improve the quality of life for residents in these underserved communities.

To achieve this, the research will delve into various aspects of architectural design, urban planning, and community engagement to identify strategies that can empower marginalized individuals, promote inclusivity, and create environments that are conducive to social and economic advancement. By addressing these challenges through architectural innovation, this research seeks to contribute to a more equitable and just urban landscape in Sao Paulo, offering valuable insights that can be applied to similar contexts worldwide.

The evolution of human civilization, entwined with food, traces our development from hunters to settlers and now to a globalized food network. Carolyn Steel's 'sitopia' theory underscores the connection between place and sustenance. Brazil, a key player in the global food industry, paradoxically grapples with high inequality despite abundant resources. The journey from hunter-gatherer societies to modern agriculture reshaped our relationship with food, altering homes and communities.

Brazil's economic surge led to urban sprawl, resulting in housing crises like favelas, driven by uneven governance and inadequate infrastructure. Despite its abundant water resources, Brazil faces disparities in access, impacting millions. Food insecurity persists, affecting rural populations disproportionately.

This paradox of plenty amid scarcity underscores complex historical, geographical, and socio-economic factors. With a growing population and unsustainable agricultural practices, the looming crisis demands a shift toward sustainable food, water, trade, and housing. The question remains: where do we begin this crucial transformation?

This research delves into the understanding of self-constructed settlement as a complex adaptive system, specifically focusing on Anchieta Occupation in São Paulo, Brazil. The design hypothesis posits that informal settlements embody highly adaptable systems, offering valuable insights for housing development strategies. The complex socio-economic and historical context of São Paulo’s rapid urban growth, coupled with the array of housing solutions that have arisen, underscores the necessity to reassess these informal settlements. This research explores the concept of a mutual-aid social housing cooperative as an alternative approach guided by the principles of complex adaptive systems, capable of addressing the evolving needs of the community. Drawing inspiration from the successful model of mutual-aid housing cooperatives in Uruguay, this study employs a structured framework based on seven fundamental characteristics of CAS: aggregation, building blocks, flows, diversity, tags, internal models, and non-linearity. Understanding the dynamics of land occupation and guiding housing development or upgrading strategies without stifling self-building and selforganizing forces can lead to remarkable robustness.

The Master's thesis "A Spatial Dialogue in the emerging city of Addis Ababa" explores the intricate dynamics between formal and informal housing in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Authored by a German-Ethiopian architectural designer, the thesis critically examines the oversimplified categorization of traditional "sefer" settlements and modern condominiums, shedding light on their impact on social, economic, and cultural aspects.

Through the combination of architectural and ethnographic research methods, the study uncovers the unique cultural nuances and spatial needs of Ethiopian dwellers. It challenges stereotypes associated with informal settlements, revealing unexpected similarities in how residents creatively appropriate their homes, irrespective of architectural differences. The subsequent design proposal for a housing complex in Yeka Abado integrates formal and informal elements, emphasizing flexibility, communal spaces, and income-generating opportunities.

The thesis advocates for a holistic, inclusive approach in architecture, emphasizing the importance of incorporating cultural heritage and community engagement. The design project serves as a conceptual exploration rooted in extensive research, aiming to bridge the gap between modern design concepts and traditional practices for inclusive and culturally responsive housing solutions.

Sao Paulo, Brazil, a megacity home to 22.4 million inhabitants as of 2022 has “one of the most inequitable distributions of wealth in the world” (Caldeira 1996, 303). In the various districts, the inequality either shouts or whispers its presence. An open city, where the street-scape is the backdrop for social convergence, segregates itself in Sao Paulo as a space of clear definition of the haves and have-nots. Within the urban condition “…the physical distances separating rich and poor have decreased at the same time that the mechanism to keep them apart have become more obvious and more complex” (Caldeira 1996, 304). As Brazil’s economic and political conditions exponentially shifted so did the reshaping of the built landscape – with that, the right to the city for the urban poor became intangible. Through the process of ‘autoconstruction’ even the poorest of citizens could gain access to the city. However, due to economic restructuring, new generations are even more at a disadvantage to precarious living conditions.

On the opposite spectrum, for the well-off, the current city skyline is arrayed with inward turned urban enclaves; congruently polarizing amenities once connected to the public street (i.e., parks, residential complexes, schools). These vertical communities retain all that is necessary within a private and autonomous space and can be positioned almost anywhere, independent of their context. In many cases, they are placed at the periphery directly neighboring auto-constructed settlements. As Caldeira coins it, “…Sao Paulo is today a city of walls” as the disparity between classes became something quite defined and accepted with the fear of crime fueling changes to all forms of public exchange (Caldeira 1996, 307). Within this, emerges a dynamic, one of codependence. The poor rely on the city for financial prosperity; the wealthy rely on the labor of the poor.

As the government begins to address housing for the city’s most marginalized through large-scale residential blocks – as a means to domesticate the transient realities of Sao Paulo’s contemporary urban condition - the notions of social segregation are still wide and apparent. As the favela is stigmatized with housing a certain social class, so is the governmental housing, and so is the urban enclave. Each environment has become categorical; of separate and unequal atmospheres devoid of connection. However, is there a way for these atmospheres to communicate? In his book, Building and Dwelling: Ethics for the City, Richard Sennett refers to three types of repair: restoration, remediation, and reconfiguration. In the case of Grajau – a peripheral district of Sao Paulo constituting for a majority of the city’s urban poor – Sennett’s ideas of repair can be disseminated within its changing context. Restoration, looking to accept the exiting approaches to marginalized housing. The second, remediation, looking to build upon existing solutions, interchanging and exchanging certain elements for an improved whole. Lastly, reconfiguration giving space for new typologies with the use of existing forms. This brings into question:

How could a kit-of-parts approach marry the efficiency of a top-down approach & the resilience of a bottom-up approach to enable place-making in self-built settlements of Grajau?
a. How can participatory process be a part of the planning process for social housing?
b. What spatial structures help create/enable the development of social cohesion in self-built settlements?
c. How can a catalogue of dwelling types adapt and meet community needs over time?

This research is motivated by the scholarly calls for new concepts and analytic tools for documenting, analysing, and theorizing complex urban territories such as those of cities in Africa. With implicit comparative intent, it takes the case of Addis Ababa city and its old and typifying places—the sefer, to develop and test a new architectural transdisciplinary research methodology referred to as the trinocular. By way of this methodology, it unearths and introduces sefer, iddir, and gebbi of Addis Ababa as not only socio-spatial phenomena but concepts and vocabulary for a located and nuanced reading of the city itself. Sefer are introduced as flexible boundary conditions that are primarily cognized by their dwellers—results of indigenous and autochthonous foundation and continued processes of self-actualization by communities that construct them. Iddir is unearthed as a form of social capital embedded in sefer that appears in the structures of relations among residents. And the gebbi as an urban spatial typology that constitutes the sefer’s morphology—the last frontier of communality just prior domestic spaces which, in many cases, can be a single multi-functional room.
These concepts and vocabulary, it is argued, in both practical and metaphoric sense, should be the starting point of new urban imaginaries for Addis Ababa. Urban planning and housing projections thus, should draw inspiration from these notions, elements, and phenomena. Furthermore, lessons learnt from the trinocular and the findings are presented as new avenues for architectural research in similar, less-known, and complex urban conditions as the sefer of Addis Ababa.
@en