Communal Facilities: A study on efficiency of communal building utilization in Public condominium housing Case Study of Selected Condominium Sites in Addis Ababa
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Date
2016-05
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EiABC
Abstract
The provision of communal buildings to condominium sites is an attempt to respond to the
cultural needs of residents, which is to provide a protected space for residents to perform traditional
tasks. Although the provision of communal units is well intentioned, the post-occupation
management and use has proven problematic and there remains no overall coherent approach
to address it. This thesis investigates the efficiency of utilizations of such communal buildings.
The main aim of this research is: to map out the overall conditions of communal buildings, to
analyze the quality and performance of communal buildings and to discuss if communal buildings
in condominium housing is an efficient option in responding to the socio-cultural needs of
the residents and to make a recommendation. The phenomenon is investigated through the
analysis of case studies located in three areas. The data are primarily collected through qualitative
techniques supplemented by a quantitative technique. The investigation is carried out from
the perspective of spatial use, management and residents response and perspective.
Based on the empirical evidence from the case study the following findings are revealed. The
study shows that there is a significant change in the design typologies of communal buildings
in terms of size, layout or functional accommodations. Slaughtering room, laundry and stores
are the common functions provide in communal buildings while some of the rooms in the communal
buildings are still locked and unusable. In terms of spatial use, the finding reveals that
slaughtering, cooking extensive meals, storing equipments , celebrations, commemorations
and mourning are the activities undertaken in communal buildings. Because of inadequacy
and lack of operative spaces, residents still perform other different or similar activities on alternative
spaces such as open spaces, walkways and corridors. In management, proclamation
370/2003 serve as a legal basis for post-occupancy management of communal buildings. The
study also found that most respondents uses the communal building occasionally and the
slaughtering room is the most frequently used space. The findings of the survey result reveals
that, the respondents were generally dissatisfied with the communal buildings; suggesting that
the communal buildings are not meeting their needs and expectations to a reasonable extent.
Generally, it is concluded that currently communal buildings in condominiums have a very large
room of improvement for further fostering in design and efficient utilization. Major problems, related
to both management and design of communal buildings, are revealed and their possible
remedy is indicated. Provision of communal building compatible with residents culture, needs
and expectations is suggested and design strategies are put forward that lead to a more flexible
communal building design with versatile spaces.
Description
This thesis is submitted to the Ethiopian Institute of Architecture, Building Construction and City
Development (EiABC) and to School of Graduate Studies of Addis Ababa University for partial
fulfilment of all requirements of Master of Science in Housing and Sustainable Development