CONSEQUENCES OF BAD HOUSING
1. Introduction
The slide show forms part of materials developed from a research on the Consequences of Bad Housing conducted by Fikiswa Mahote a SEED Advisor and Heidi Norman a Danish Architect who worked as a Volunteer, both from Development Action Group. The research was done through a series of visits to a number of traditional low-cost houses in the townships of Gugulethu, Delft, Nyanga and Khayelitsha which was conducted as part of materials development for energy education, which form the basis of Sustainable, Energy, Environment and Development (SEED) work. All the houses we visited were of comparatively new date, not over five years, which only made our observations even more shocking. We looked at the general state of houses, the internal and external environment and talked to the occupants who voiced how their houses have become a burden instead of pride. We also recommended some measures that they, as home- owners could implement to remedy their situation.
Lack of Ventilation
We observed that most low-cost houses do not have ventilation. The main reason being that the building regulations do not require installation of airbricks for low-cost housing and the fact that people close them. We realise that this poses serious problems, as the houses are becoming more enclosed as people install ceilings. Again the type of energy used to cook generate a lot of smoke. There are many problems that could be remedied by the installation of air- bricks in the houses we visited.
2.1 Observation related to ventilation
Observation
People rarely open their windows during the day and never at night.
Cause
Security. Few people can afford buglarbars.
Wind. It is often very windy, and the wind can be very strong.
Heat. During winter the houses are generally very cold, due to lack of insulation, and people do not want to let out the little heat they have got by opening the windows.
Sand. When the wind is blowing, people close their windows to avoid sand from getting into the house.
Lack of information around why ventilation is important
Observation
Condensation
The houses sweat (occupants’ own description of condensation). Condensation literally streams down the windows and walls.
Cause
Lack of ventilation
 
Observation
Indoor air is very heavy and evil smelling.
Cause
Lack of ventilation
 
Observation
Where there are ceilings, the boards are mouldy and is literally disintegrating and falling down.
Cause
Humidity due to lack of ventilation of the rooms as well as the roof.
 
Observation
In the kitchen area the ceilings and walls are sweaty and burnt.
Cause
Cooking often takes place over a flame stove.
The houses are designed without consideration for the fact that many people use flame stoves.
Cooking often takes place, where there is no window. Often in a passage or in the middle of a room, where there is no ventilation.
Ventilation through the roof is not seen anywhere (no chimneys).
Observation
Where airbricks are built in, these are often covered.
Cause
Draft
When the wind is blowing sand comes in.
When it rains, water comes in.
Some houses do not have a ceiling, which means that there is a natural airflow through cracks in the beam filling and through the poorly fitted roof sheets. In these houses the indoor air quality is somewhat better than in the houses with a ceiling.
Observation
In almost every house there are people suffering from some kind of respiratory problems or chest pains. The occupants mentioned that the children have constant flu.
Cause
It is tempting to draw the conclusion that these symptoms derive from the bad indoor climate, but this however needs further investigation. It is however certain that if one suffers from some kind of illness, the poor indoor climate will not help the recovery.
 

Implications: Health risks, psychological damage and economical burden.

Solutions: Open windows, Clear airbricks-do not staff them with paper
Fit in adequate ventilation, Ventilate the roof, Raise indoor.
For minimum health purposes there need to be non-closeable vents to ensure that there is still adequate ventilation. Good ventilation promotes physiological and psychological functioning of the human body engendering a sense of well being and comfort.

2.2 Observations related to construction
We observed that the newly built houses are of worst state than the older ones. These observations were also made by construction experts and the following were picked up (visual only).
Cracks on the walls, below windowsills and around the doorframes.
Weather wall leaks during rains, perps not filled.
Wall finish against underside of roof sheets messy.
Thick mortar filling above lintols.
House dimensions not modular to block size.
Broken roof sheets
Screw not fixed sufficiently in roof sheets
No waterproofing measures
House Designs
Size
The houses are very small, ranging from 20m2 to 36m2 and the average family is 5 people.
Light
The amount of natural light in these houses is very poor. Often a 27m2 house has only one window, which leaves the room very dark. During winter you have to have artificial light on almost all the time. Most artificial lights used are fluorescent which gives a very unpleasant lighting, and distorts the natural color of everything. Furthermore this also means that the occupants have to use more energy and money on artificial lighting.
Plot
The size of most plots is very small. The house is positioned more or less in the middle of the plot does not leave much room for extensions. Often the way the sewerage is positioned also limits any possibilities for extending the houses. Most houses are not designed in an incremental way, which means extra work and money when people want to extend.
There is not much space for greening or planting trees for shade and stabilizing the sand. The atmosphere is such that there are very limited possibilities for any outdoor activities on own plot.
 
Materials
Most houses are constructed by materials that pose risks to human health such as asbestos and not only as a roofing material but walls. These materials are thermally inefficient and unsustainable and environmentally unsafe.
Implication- affects the mental health, no privacy, economical burden, negative impact on environment and destroys human dignity and the fabric of the town

Solutions: Maximum supervision during construction, inspection by local authority, allow for future extension when positioning house on a plot, divide rooms to create private space, let as much light in as possible

Observations related to water penetration
The quality of materials used and the standard of workmanship have
a big role in determining the resistance to rain penetration of masonry walls and should be borne in mind at the designing stage in deciding whether for instance walls have a plastered or fair-face finish. There are three things to look at here, how you fill the mortar, the mortar mix (ingredients) and pointing of mortar joints.
Windows and Masonry
Weather proofing around windows defects around window and door openings are a common cause of rain penetration in otherwise weatherproof walls. There is usually a gap or small crack between wall and window frame through which rain penetrates. Most low cost houses are not water proofed.
Leakage through roof
Water penetrate through the roof fasteners which are often left unsealed. Also water penetrates easily as most houses have no proper roof overhangs. Rain finds its way through the ridge, parapets and roof to wall junctions.

Implications: Health risks, economic burden, negative impact to environment(immediate to global) and energy use (space heating and drying)

 

Solution: Plaster or paint the weather wall with waterproof paints that allow the house to breathe, fasten the roof sheeting

Observation in relation to the external environment
The areas are sandy
No trees, vegetation, neither in private or public spaces
No sense of enclosure
Monotony
 
The areas where most low-cost houses are built are not scaled to pedestrian movement. Walking around in these areas is very unpleasant. There is no sense of enclosure at all and there is little protection from the elements, storms, rain, wind, sun and blowing sands. Not being protected from the elements is a major issue in an area that is frequently wind-blasted. Sand piles up around houses to considerable heights and dust pollution is evident.
The quality of the public spaces is extremely poor and buildings do not define, enclose or give scale to spaces. The entire environment consists of a collection of freestanding objects of more or less the same size. The monotony is striking and saddening.
There is very little evidence of vegetation in either the public or private spaces. No playgrounds for the children or public places for adults to meet and socialize.
Implications: dangerous neighborhood for children, exposure to health risks, unpleasant outdoor life inhibits social interaction, which is often the very culture of these people. Limitation in the knowledge of the environment such as indigenous plants and even birds
 

Solution: Plant trees to provide shade and shield wind, grow vegetable gardens, and plant grass to stabilise the soil and minimise sand blowing.