The socio-cultural aspects of the housing typology: Nairobi, Kenya -1972

Abstract

THE SOCIO-CULTURAL ASPECTS OF THE HOUSING TYPOLOGY: Nairobi, Kenya - 1972 by Alex Loy Seid Submitted to the Depar~ent of Architecture on January 23, 1974 in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Architecture in Advanced Studies. This thesis is based upon two complementary premises: first, how past and present policies and institutions have affected, and generally have exhibited the urbanizing African in attaining a qualitative physical and social environment; and second, how the socio-cultural ~psects of the housing environment in Nairobi, Kenya exhibit the present level of physical land social urbanization. Therefore a synchronic examination the spatial and socio-cultural growth and development of the housing environment in Nairobi and an examination of the present housing environment could provide indicators to those involved with the formulation, design and planning of housing policies and programs. The statement "Housing is a vehicle for social change" (U.N., 1965) is a simplistic summation of a complicated socio-cultural interactive process. This process involves people and how they are able or unable to contend with a rapidly urbanizing context, to adjust, and to resocialize to an unfamiliar and heterogeneous, urban social and physical environment while meeting the needs and requirements for shelter, employment, secur~ty, and identity in becoming integrated into urban living. In Appendix I, a preliminary survey of the present housing environment representative of the full range of Nairobi's variegated and differentiated forms and types of housing, is included for the benefit of the readers not familiar with the urban context. Thesis Superviser: .William P. Mangin Title: Professor of Urban Studies and Planning - Developing Countries and Regional planning