1.1. Upgrading of Shelters

And also, this is a kind of partial upgrade with reclaimed materials they have the developed with the kind of whatever, they have able to procure from the past site or with their feasibilities, they have made some modifications to their shelters. And within a month 53% of the house owners have started to upgrade their shelters and this is very quick, within a month if this kind of change is 53%.

This chunk discusses the initial phase of upgrading shelters. It highlights that many homeowners began making improvements to their living spaces quickly, with 53% taking action within just one month. They used reclaimed materials and made modifications based on what was available to them and their situation.

Imagine a community that suffered from a natural disaster. In the weeks following, many families started fixing their homes using materials they found from their previous buildings or nearby sources. Just as these families made swift improvements to their homes, the government observed this rapid change and took this as a sign to support and expand the upgrading process.

The priorities were first doors, second walls and the third is windows, so the ventilation aspect. And some beneficiaries bought their own timber for walls, doors and windows as we have seen in this complete set is in a timber.

In this chunk, the importance of prioritizing upgrades is described. Homeowners chose to focus on doors first, followed by walls and finally windows, indicating a logical approach to improving ventilation and security. Some even purchased their own materials (like timber) to facilitate these upgrades.

Think about renovating a house. You might first want to ensure your doors lock properly for security, then fix the walls for structural integrity, and finally change the windows for aesthetics and light. Just like in home renovation projects, prioritizing is key to efficient upgrades.

For the outset and used the plastic sheeting provided to the line of the walls, so they covered with a kind of partial covering with a plastic sheet. Others sold a plastic sheeting and hired the local artisans to build adobe walls.

This chunk illustrates the resourcefulness of homeowners during the upgrade process. They utilized plastic sheeting to cover walls as a temporary solution and some opted to sell plastic sheeting to pay artisans to construct stronger adobe walls, showing a blend of creativity and practical decision-making.

Consider a student doing a science project on a budget. They might start by using old boxes and covers for their presentation, but if they sell some items to get better materials, they can enhance their project. This showcases a similar resourcefulness in improving their living conditions.

So this whole process you know, it’s all showing up an incremental process depending on each household what kind of economic feasibility they had, what kind of infill they are responding to their needs and demands.

The chunk reflects how upgrading is an incremental process that varies significantly between households based on their financial abilities and specific needs. Each family responded differently based on what they could afford and what their immediate requirements were.

Picture a group of friends planning a trip. Some can afford luxurious hotels, while others might opt for budget hostels, and some could even camp. They each make progress based on their individual financial situations and preferences, much like how households upgrade their shelters.

So, with this, the government have understood that yes there is a possibility that to scale up this process. So, now what they did was they developed from 18 square meters to 20 square meters and the permanent walls of adobe and timber and they launched the project build about 40,000 low cost houses.

This part indicates the government's recognition of the situation, leading them to scale up the upgrading process from individual households to a larger project. They aimed to provide more substantial structures, enhancing living conditions with permanent walls and expanding housing availability.

Imagine a local bakery that starts by selling a few pastries at a market. Seeing the demand, they decide to build a larger storefront to produce and sell more pastries. The government, in this analogy, acts like the bakery owner who sees the opportunity to help many people.

But when you talk about the theoretical understanding of it, you know as I said you in the beginning transition shelter is not a noun, it is a verb, it is a process.

This chunk introduces the concept that housing should not merely be considered a static 'thing' but rather as a dynamic 'process' that evolves over time. It emphasizes the importance of personalizing and adapting homes as people live in them.

Think of a garden. It isn't just a single set of flowers planted at once; it requires ongoing care, adjustments, and growth. Just like nurturing a garden, creating a home is about constant attention and gradual improvement.

John F.C. Turner on his work in Mexico, housing by people. So, that is where he talks about the use value derived from this approach was more significant than the market value, as what housing does for the user is more important than what it is.

This section discusses John's perspective that the real worth of housing lies not in its financial value but in how it serves the users. The emphasis is on the actual benefits people derive from their homes rather than merely the monetary aspects.

Consider a family living in a modest home filled with love and memories versus a lavish mansion that is empty and cold. The emotional shelter provides value that far exceeds its financial cost, similar to Turner's view on housing.

And similarly, John Habraken supports on 3 levels of decision making; one is the tissue and the support which is the base building. The tissue refers to the urban fabric and the support refers to the base building and the fitout refers to the infill.

This chunk introduces a framework for thinking about housing design decision-making at three levels: the underlying urban framework (tissue), the foundational building structure (support), and the adaptive changes made by users (fitout). It highlights how each level can evolve over time.

It's akin to a video game where you have a base level (the game environment), the main characters (the structure of the game), and the skins or costumes you can customize (the fitout). Each element can change independently and influence the overall experience.

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