housing and its spatial distribution (types of housing) Flashcards
What is housing?
Structures/buildings to shelter people from the elements & is a basic need
can be permanent/temporary
What can housing be classified by?
Height and density
More than 6 storeys & use lifts (high rise)
associated with high density housing
where is high-density housing found?
near to the city centre
where is low density housing found?
towards the fringe of the city
What are the features of formal housing? (4)
-built by government/private developers
-legal right to occupy land
-access to basic services
-high quality building materials
What is the legal right to occupy land?
Ability of individuals to freely obtain, use, and possess land (as long as activities do not impede on other individuals’ rights)
what does the legal right to occupy land do?
provides security and increases human capabilities (permission obtained)
what does access to basic services do?
it contributes to housing environment and quality of life
what does access to basic services include?
-easy access to water
-electricity
-sanitation services (infrastructure built tgt with housing project)
who manages access to basic services?
Town Council
What must developments conform to? (what guidelines)
planning authorities’ guidelines (In SG it is BCA Building and Construction Authority) specifications
What high-quality building materials are usually used?
concrete
metal
hard wood
What do the materials and guidelines vary with? (what 3 types of circumstances)
- social
- economic
- environmental
what must high-quality building materials do?
withstand elements (e.g. heavy rain and strong winds)
protect occupants from basic threats such as fires
last for a long time with minimal maintenance
what are the features of informal housing? (4)
1) self-built squatter settlements
2) no legal right to occupy land
3) lack of access to basic services
4) poor-quality building materials
Who is informal housing is usually built by and in what manner
typically built by individuals in an unplanned fashion
(development not planned for)
what materials are informal housing usually constructed from?
scavenged materials (e.g. repurposed zinc sheets and recycled lumber)
what does using inferior building materials lead to? (3)
1) risk of collapsing
2) being flooded on rainy days
3) catching fire easily
why is informal housing built?
out of necessity and desperation for shelter
where are informal houses usually located at?
government land or private property that is undeveloped and unsecured
what risks do occupants of informal housing face?
-environmental threats to their safety
-risk of losing their homes (being evicted)
what do informal housing residents do when there is a lack of access to basic services?
resort to illegally tapping onto nearby electrical grids, siphoning water from nearby pipes and disposing of sanitary waste into the ground or nearby rivers
what do practices and resorts (due to lack of basic services) lead to?
higher risk of injury and ill-health
(electrocution, consumption of contaminated water and waterborne diseases)
Example of housing in cities (high rise, high density)
Apartments
Shared facilities (playgrounds, exercise equipments, swimming pools)
Examples of Low rise, Low density housing
Detached houses (bungalows)
Semi-detached houses
Terraces
Shophouses
What planning agencies might do? (Chapter 7) ignore
Planning agencies may disallow some uses and construction in unsafe locations to prevent hazards from occurring
Information is then shared with land owners and property developers to ensure everyone’s safety
