Space and Domestic Activity in A 20/80 Condominium Housing Unit The Case of Gellan Iii Condominium, Addis Ababa
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Date
2022-10-01
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The Ethiopian government has implemented the Integrated Housing Development Program (IHDP) to tackle housing challenges in Addis Ababa amid rapid urbanization. Previous researches have shown that the IHDP has had problems regarding responsiveness of the units and urban design to occupants’ needs and activities. This study examines how Gellan III condominium inhabitants utilize their housing units for domestic activities, the impact of spatial design on these activities and the vice versa. Using qualitative methods, including semi-structured interviews and space syntax analysis, the study reveals clear distinctions between chore and leisure activities, with communal and individual activities being inversely related. Women predominantly perform household chores, with most activities centered in the living room and kitchen. The corridor and living room are highly integrated and control most activities, while the kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, and balcony are more private and less integrated. The corridor is pivotal in distributing activities to other rooms, followed by the living room. Domestic activities and spatial design mutually influence each other, depending on household characteristics, activity spatial needs, and space adaptability. Some domestic activities have been minimized, relocated, disappeared, or mechanized due to spatial constraints. Spatial modifications include adding rooms, functional changes, demolition, and enlargement due to rooms being smaller than the needs of the activity, lack of designated activity spaces, and household size mismatch with house typology, privacy needs, and storage issues. The study recommends designing typologies with end-user participation, incorporating Ethiopian vernacular housing studies, and considering the relationship between activity spaces. Allocation of house typologies, partition design and material selection of walls should consider the dynamism of household. Additionally, it suggests developing kitchen designs tailored to Ethiopian needs rather than European standards, creating wider corridors, and allocating space for all activities. These adjustments aim to address the dynamic needs of households and improve the functionality of housing units
Key:words: Condominium, domestic activities, spatial design, space syntax