3.2. Use Value vs Market Value

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 how homeowners are making upgrades to their shelters using reclaimed materials. Within just one month, 53% of the homeowners have started these upgrades, indicating a rapid response to improving their living conditions. This reflects how quickly people can adapt and enhance their environments when given access to materials and resources.

Think of when people do DIY (Do It Yourself) home projects. If someone gets some old wood from a friend to build a shelf, they can quickly improve their home. Just like that, in this context, homeowners are utilizing available materials to upgrade their shelters fast.

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 upgrading their shelters, the homeowners prioritized their needs: first doors for security, then walls for enclosure, and finally windows for ventilation. This shows a logical progression in enhancing their household conditions, focusing on essential elements that enhance livability.

Imagine if you moved into a new apartment. You'd probably want to secure the front door first, then ensure the walls are stable for privacy, and finally add curtains to the windows for light control. This illustrates the same prioritization in shelter upgrades.

And some beneficiaries bought their own timber for walls, doors and windows as we have seen in this complete set is in a timber. 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.

Homeowners were resourceful in their upgrades. Some purchased timber while others utilized plastic sheeting to cover walls temporarily. Those who sold the plastic sheeting were able to hire local artisans to create more stable adobe walls. This highlights how community resources and economic decisions impact shelter improvements.

Consider how a group of friends might pool their money together to buy supplies for a project. They might decide to make a temporary improvement first and then save up to do something more permanent later, just like these homeowners did.

As Christopher Alexander describes a house is an activity which is ‘created gradually, as a direct result of living which is happening in it and around it’ by people who spend only what they can afford.

This illustrates the concept that a house becomes a home through personal experiences and the ongoing efforts of its inhabitants. These modifications are not just physical but also reflect the social context and individual needs, emphasizing that housing is a dynamic process instead of a static product.

Consider how a person adds personal touches to their new home over time, like painting walls or arranging furniture. These changes make the space feel more like 'home'. Similarly, homeowners in this context are shaping their spaces based on what they need and can afford.

John F.C. Turner 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.

Turner emphasizes that the beneficial aspects of housing—how well it meets the needs of those who live in it—are far more crucial than its financial market value. This suggests that accessibility and adequacy of housing are paramount, prioritizing people’s needs over economic perception.

Think of a used car that is affordable and reliable for someone. Its market value might be low, but its use value is high for the owner because it serves their needs for transportation. Similarly, the focus here is on how well homes serve their inhabitants rather than their potential resale prices.

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, what the people have done in their houses.

Habraken outlines three crucial levels in housing: 'tissue' refers to the overall environment, 'support' to the fundamental structure of a building, and 'infill' to the personalized elements that residents add. This framework illustrates how individuals and communities interact at varying levels to shape their living environments.

Think of a cake. The 'tissue' is like the cake structure, which is the same for every cake (the recipe), the 'support' is the frosting that makes it look appealing (the base building), and the 'infill' consists of the toppings that personalize it (individual changes by residents).

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