UAE Pavilion
The UAE Pavilion focuses on Sha’abi housing; a social housing program that gives local residents access to a basic housing model, which they then transform over time to adapt to their own life (one such adaptation being the addition of armchairs along the street frontage, to act as external community lounges).
Below: a photograph survey of the varied Sha’abi homes around across the UAE
The basic model begins its life as a 2/3 bedroom unit with views towards an external courtyard. As the family grows, the plot size, building structure and internal arrangement are regularly adapted to provide additional bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens and living areas. In many cases, the family will extend into adjacent buildings, where additional spaces are rented from neighbouring families.
Below: sketch highlighting the main transformations of a Sha’abi house
Where most UK houses are occupied by a single family, the culture within the UAE is such that family is everything. Because of this, you will often find 3 or more families living together (connected through marriage); thus the house becomes a family portrait.
Below: diagram analysing the home transformations of a small community in Al Ain, compared with the original model supplied to them (highlighted in blue)
In fact, the only reason a family would break away from the main house is due to practicalities and the need to expand further. In this case, the family will often move next door, therefore staying part of the family community.
The adaptability of both the home and the life of the people within it is a key concern of the housing market - can similar principles / models be applied to the work of HLM?
