TOWARDS AN -ARCHITECTURE OF -SELF--RELIANCE

This research project focuses on how decisions made by practitioners, articulating rural housing in Sub-Sahara Africa, contribute to the decreasing level of self-reliance inhabitants have regarding their housing. Multiple case studies on Mt. Elgon pr
oved that inhabitants have a significantly higher self-reliance level, comparing traditional to modern housing. To study this phenomenon in practice and to articulate suitable design support the Design Research Methodology was chosen. The research cl
arification pinpointed inhabitant capacities as the key-contributor to self-reliant housing. Household survey outcomes proved that large numbers of rural inhabitant''s desire housing which they have insufficient capacities for. Indicating that the in
habitants experience a disparity between existing and desired housing capacities, moreover an inability to bridge this disparity independently, and consequently require external help.
Architect seemed most appropriate to offer this help as it co
nsist of sociocultural, engineering and design tasks. Architects are not trained in inhabitant capacity evaluation and as no suitable design tools existed, this research project developed the required design support, its application requirements and
the impact measurements. These were then tested in a pilot project on Mt. Elgon. The findings were used to evaluate the support''s impact and suitability. The support tool users found it suitable to assess and integrate inhabitant capacities into hou
sing solutions. The impact shows that the support group families have sustained their family''s level of self-reliance unlike the control group. The developed technological design, with modifications, could be used not only in rural Kenyan communitie
s, but also help others around the continent.