Guidelines for Room Types in Low-cost HousingWith reference to the highland climatic region

Housing Research and Development Unit - University of Nairobi--

UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBIHOUSING RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT UNIT

P. O. BOX 30197 NAIROBI KENYA TELEPHONE 27441 EXT.212 TELEGRAMS VARSITY

GUIDELINES FOR ROOM TYPES IN LOW-tOST HOUSINGwith reference to the highland climatic region

OTTO KASZNER M.A.A. (Research Fellow)

Housing Research and Development Unit, University of NairobiDirector - K.B.Andersen, M.A.A.

P.O.Box 30197, Nairobi, Tel 27441 EXT 212

TABLE OF CONTENTSpage

1. Introduction ..............•......•... 1

2. The habitable room .....•......••..... 3

3. The kLt.chen •••••••••••••••••••••••••. 7

4. The sanitary uni t. ..•.............•. 11

5. The store ..•..•....•..••...•.....••. 13

6. The verandah ........•....•.......•.. 14

7. The enclosed outdoor area 15

Appendix ..•..•...........•.......•.. 17

References •.....•..•..•..•..•..•.... 19

~ Copyright H.R.D.U. April 1977.

The printing of this report is fully fundedthrough a Rockefeller Foundation Grant tothe Department of Architecture for thedevelopment of locally based and relevantteaching material in the field of housingand community studies.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The author gratefully acknowleges the help re-ceived from colleagues at the Housing Researchand Development Unit, University of Nairobi,in particular P.J. Mein.

Printed by the Kenya National Federation ofCo-operatives Limited, Nairobi.

1. INTRODUCTION

It is the aim of this paper to provide guidelineson space requirements for various room types forurban low-cost housing. Many of the guidelinessuggested will also be applicable for rural housing,whether constructed in traditional ways or by indu-strialized methods.The guidelines are meant for the following users:house designers, building contractors, technicalstaff of local councils, teachers at polytechnicschools (including village polytechnics) and forapplication to aided self-help schemes.

background Housing shortage is endemic within the urban low-income sector. This leads to:- rooms being sublet at the rate of one householdper habitable room;- overcrowding of the individual rooms;- stress on service facilities like toilets, showersand kitchens;- circulation and access problems;- lack of privacy;Space requirements as laid down in the Building Codeare based on the assumption that each multi-roomeddwelling will be occupied by one household only.Designing strictly in accordance with the BuildingCode's requirements does not therefore take thereal problem of overcrowding into considpration.Sizes and configuration of rooms should be basedon functional requirements and economical limita-tions rather than solely on the Building Code'swording.

cost framework As mentioned above these guidelines are meant forthe design of urban low-cost housing, which accor-ding to the Ministry of Housing and Social Servicesdefinition,means those categories of housing costingnot more than Kshs 24.000/- per unit catering forthe income groups earning not more than Kshs 800/-per month.It should be noted that with the present escalationin building costs Kshs 24.000/- is insufficient toprovide a contractor built unit consisting of akitchen, sanitary unit and two habitable rooms.As a consequence of the increasing demand for hou-sing within the lowest income groups the bulk ofGovernment funds for this Development Plan periodis allocated to site and service, self-help schemesat an average of Kshs 10.600/- per plot unit at1974 prices.

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scope

legal framework

room type definitions

The following room types are dealt with: thehabitable room, kitchen, shower,toilet and store.Furthermore the verandah and the enclosed outdoorspaces next to the houses have been considered asroom types due to their specific functions withinthe lowest cost categories of housing.The suggested room types have been examined fortheir performance under different conditionsranging from conventional use to situations ofmultiple use. The climatic design aspects havealso been considered.

The guidelines are geared towards the Grade IIBy-Laws of the Kenya Building Code which,it shouldbe noted, are a legal instrument in themselves andtherefore not subject to be subjugated or super-seeded by other sections of the Building Code.It should also be noted that according to thePublic Health Act, health aspects related to hou-se design shall be satisfactory to the localMedical Officer of Health or the local Health Inspector.

The main health aspects are: provision of adequatesanitary facilities in relation to the number ofhabitable rooms and provision of adequate ventilationin the rooms.

In the Building Code the various room types aredefined as follows:- "habitable room" means a room used or intendedto be used for the purpose of working, living orsleeping, other than kLt.chen , or laundry room forthe sole use of the occupants of the dwelling towhich it is attached;- "kitchen" means a room designed, adapted or usedsolely for the pUrPOse of preparing or cooking foodand washing utensils;- "latrine" means a receptacle or receptacles forfaecal matter, together with the structure containingsuch receptacle and the fittings and apparatusconnected therewith:

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climatic aspects

legal requirements

2. THE HABITABLE ROOM.

The hahi table rooms, i.e. the living room and the bed-room, within the lowest categories differ from the onesin other categories of housing in terms of multi-use.Often all family activities, like preparatdjon of food,eating, social life, childrens play, housework and slee-ping have to be.accommodated within the same room.

Design Criteria.

The following should be considered in the planning ofthe habitable room:-dimensions should be related to bedspaces of 1 x 2 mito allow for an optimum number of beds under minimumconditions.

29 - 12 .m ,rate of one

-the area should preferably be betweenconsidering a likely initial occupancyhousehold per room.-access should be from: a corridor, an enclosed outdoorarea (e.g. a courtyard) or via only one otherhabitable room.-openings should be spaced in a way which ensures thebest use of the room by not having areas difficult tofurnish or poorly lit. Openings should be providedwith burglar proofing.

-window openings should be placed in the north andsouth elevation.-external doors should be placed in the north and southelevation.-internal doors should be located to allow for crossventilation.-living rooms should face to the north as during thecold season the sun is in the northern hemisphere.-window openings; when cill heights exceed 1000 romadditional vent openings should be placed at a lowerlevel in the external walls.

The following requirements refer to the Grade IIBy-laws:

2a) minimum floor area 7 m (75 sq. ft.)b) one hab~table room of each dwelling should at leastbe 11.20 m (120 sq. ft.)

2c) minimum area per person: 3.72 m (40 sq. ft.)d) m~n~mum heights, when ceiling is provided: wallheight 2.135 m (7' -Oil), average room height 2.360 m(7' -9").

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