Urban Design

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Browsing Urban Design by Author "Alemayehu Yonas"

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    The Management of Water in the Ihdp Program: How Sustainable is it?
    (Addis Ababauniversity, 2016-01) Yohana Eyob; Alemayehu Yonas
    The Integrated Housing Development Program (IHDP) is an ongoing mass housing development for low and middle income dwellers of urban areas in Ethiopia. This study examines the sustainability of water management in the occupied IHDP neighborhoods in Addis Ababa. The phenomenon is investigated through the analysis of a case study. The data are primarily collected through qualitative techniques supplemented by a quantitative technique. This was done in three parts: first finding out pre-design and design considerations of water management for Gofa-Mebrathaile condominium site; second investigate the household water management trend in relation to the design of the condominiums and third is measuring the level of sustainability of the water management for this neighborhood. Based on the empirical evidence from the case study and analytical generalization the following findings are revealed. With the aim to alleviate the living standards of people the housing units are designed with indoor toilets and kitchens. This is considered to be one of the achievements of the IHDP; before moving to the condominiums, in the slum areas, people were using shared kitchens and toilets among a large group of people or do not have it at all. Due to this and the existence of flush toilets and use of conventional sewerage system the average daily demand is increased to be 111 l/c/d from the previous 30 l/c/d. From this amount 80% of the water is calculated to be used by the flush toilets to make the sewerage system work properly. But the demand and supply of water are not balanced. Due to this the case area is suffering from shortage of water. People stay on average three to four days without water and this gets even worse in dry seasons which could go more than eight days. The apartment units (usually small spaces) and the shared spaces are being occupied by water storage containers as most of the building are not built with water reservoirs. Since the toilets and kitchens are found inside the units, there is a big chance of contamination when the water supply is interrupted, which puts the residents health in a high risk. They cannot also access external toilets in their surrounding as such options are not considered with the neighborhood design. The actions taken by different authorities are not integrated in order to solve the problem. AAWSA is the only responsible body to manage water and to overcome the problem of water shortage. The actions taken by this organization are traditional and there are no much considerations for alternative and innovative ways. Even if there are some considerations to adopt some sustainable water management principles by AAWSA, but since other decisions are not integrated the overall effect is not very visible. The sustainable water management performance assessment method done in this research, shows that water management is partly unsatisfactory in terms of the accepted sustainable water management principles for developing countries. Finally the study recommends possible iv solutions for the already built condominiums and the coming ones to have a more sustainable practice in the management of water for housing development
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    Public Rental Housing as Housing Delivery Strategy in Addis Ababa: The Case of Apartments Constructed by Agency for Government Houses (AGH)
    (Addis Ababauniversity, 2016-06) Hailu Yehanew; Alemayehu Yonas
    Rental housing takes the biggest share in Addis Ababa’s housing stock; above 50 percent. 37% is the share of the private rental sector; which is characterised by continuous rise in rent price and is becoming unaffordable for many poor households. Contrary to this is the public rental housing sector (PRH); it provides the most affordable housing units so far. With unrevised rent price and contract the sector has become permanent affordable shelter for many. Government policy that promotes home ownership has frozen the production of new PRH units. The study examines existing PRH stock in Addis Ababa in search of potentials and lessons for further developing the sector in the future. It focuses on apartments constructed by Agency for Government Houses (AGH); and studies development process, target group and management. Based on findings the study also proposes a strategy for developing the sector anew. For the purpose of in-depth understanding of the sector a Case Study method is used; cases were selected based on availability of data and rational of the study. Purposeful random sampling was used for selecting interviewed tenants. Data are collected through interview, questionnaire and reviewing archival materials; tenant satisfaction survey was used to shed light on the management performance of AGH. Additional data were also collected from secondary sources as part of contextual and background study. Data on development process were analysed in comparison with current housing development trend. The study came up with three basic findings; first, it was the decisions made at different times by the central government that had led to the construction of the apartments rather than pre-planned consistent strategy. The central government (Ministry of Urban Development and Construction) played the major role in the development process. All involved actors were public institutions; including those who participated in the design and construction. AGH financed the construction of the apartments with money collected from rent; which makes AGH financially self-sufficient back then. Second, Current tenants are mainly high and middle income households, opposed to low income households which are considered to be the right target group of such PRH programs . The units are also rented for different purposes; for housing, office and shop. Third, the management is found to be satisfactory in some aspects and unsatisfactory in others; with big problem on repair and maintenance. The study also found potentials for further developing the sector, such as huge underdeveloped land in the city centre; occupied by low-rise and poor quality PRH units and rent money collected from these units. Current institutional structure of AGH and government housing policy and strategy are challenges for further developing the sector. Based on the findings the study provides detail strategy proposal. Program design, land acquisition, financing mechanisms, target group and management are discussed in detail in the strategy. Key words: Public rental housing, tenant, Agency for Government Houses, housing management, tenants‟ satisfaction, development process, Addis Ababa
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    Transformation of Konso Vernacular Houses
    (Addis Ababauniversity, 2015-02) Mengesha Garedew; Alemayehu Yonas
    Vernacular Architecture is about buildings that are built by available resources within a traditional technological context. It also refers to the workmanship of the indigenous housing experts and the dwellers. Vernacular houses are built to meet specific needs, accommodating the values, economies and ways of life of the cultures that produce them. Konso, the study area, is one of the Woredas of Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People Regional State (SNNPRS) in Ethiopia, is one of the areas in Ethiopia where vernacular architecture is practiced abundantly. Five walled villages have been identified in order to study the expressions of vernacular architecture in Konso. The general objective of the study is to analyze the characteristics and transformation of the original Konso vernacular houses. The study identifies the characteristics of Konso vernacular houses from the point of view of space, function and building material. Besides, the study indicates the reasons for transformation. The study employed case study method where the data collection tools were interviews, focused group discussions and personal observation. In doing so, the study took in to account two case areas found closer to and far from the woreda’s town. The target groups were selected from different walled villages. The first case study was based on information from three walled villages, whereas the second case presents the data from two villages. And, the data gathered for the study was analyzed qualitatively using pictures, tables and maps. The analysis and findings clearly indicate that the Konso vernacular houses were transformed partially (including the hybrid type) and totally to the extent of bringing about new cultural dynamics that challenges old power relations in the society
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    vernacular Architecture of Argobba, Ethiopia: The Case of Shonke Amba
    (Addis Ababauniversity, 2016-12) Mehari Enyew; Alemayehu Yonas
    Vernacular architecture is dwelling and other buildings of people and structures made by empirical builders without the intervention of professional architects. In other words it can be defined as the architectural languages of the people. It is designed based on local needs, availability of construction materials, reflecting local traditions and the highest form of sustainable building using the most available material. The main objective of this research was to document the spatial elements and heritages of the Argobba people found at the locality of Shonke Amba at settlement, compound and house level. The study basically aimed at documenting the formation of the settlement i.e., space used, methods of construction and existing house typologies. The origin of the name ‘Argobba’ has two assumptions. First the elders of Shonke Amba say that, Argobba means Areb gebba (Arabs have entered). The second is Har gubba which means silk that is seen on mountain. Argobba are people found in south eastern Wello and north- eastern of Shewa the current Amhara regional estate in Ethiopia. They are Muslim, self-sufficient agriculturists, traditional cloth weavers and merchants. Their home land stretches between north Oromia to south Wello on the ranges of mountain or escarpments. To achieve the objective, an integrated approach, which included anthropological, sociological, behavioral and architectural, research method, was used. The case study was conducted on 24 selected houses (local called dereb bet). The selection was conducted based on the type of dwellings and their compounds. A review from literature, questionnaire, interviews, maps, GPS and photographs were used to collect data. The collected data were analyzed using tables, maps, GIS, perception maps. The analysis result shows that the settlement is divided into three sub settlements (genda’s). The compound form is a polygon with an area size ranging from 21 – 236 m2. The major elements of the compound are the house, weret (animal domain) and Kara (the front yard). The house is classified into four types. Two row (local name self or jemb is a space created between two rows of column) three rows, four rows, and five rows house type. The roads within the settlement are organic grid system with road names and hierarchy. The entire house at Shonke Amba is very close to the narrow access road. The reasons behind this are 1) to utilize the maximum space for settlement at the Amba. 2) to mislead the location during aggression and 3) to protect themselves from invaders. The house and the Amba based settlement are the identities of Argobba people because the settlement has preserved the culture and religion of Argobba for the last 834 years. Currently this amazing heritage site has been demolished for the need for wooden columns, (local name bala) main wooden beam, (local name feres) and secondary wooden beam (local name gadim), to reconstruct the house around the farm area. The study recommends that all bodies concerned should take immediate action to preserve the site for tourist attraction by creating awareness among the Argobba people about the heritage and the social benefit. In addition to these improving basic needs such as developing clean water source, providing clean communal toilets, having accommodation space for tourists, improving the road infrastructure for easy access should be considered. Moreover, the water proof flat roof and the load resistant wooden beam made of Olive tree or common name African wild Olive (local name woira) need further research which might contribute a lot for the future sustainable housing development