Transformation of Housing in Low-income Settlement: A Study of Domestic Spaces in Ershad Nagar Resettlement Camp

Housing transformation is a major livelihood strategy among low-income households in formal and informal settlements. Domestic spaces are produced for social unit. This study illustrates the analysis of domestic spaces in a low-income settlement and their impact on the way of life of the inhabitants. The factors that affect the physical organization of spaces and its quality are evaluated with respect to the survival strategy of the low-income dwellers. The space organization of the dwelling units in low-income settlements illustrates different structures and forms that may not fit the conventional understanding of modern urban housing. The space organization of such dwelling reflects the users need and space requirements and the incremental developments are experienced with mutual understanding of the neighbors. In this respect, the physical characteristics a low-income settlement in Dhaka are investigated; namely Ershad Nagar resettlement camp. Besides the housing and neighborhood characteristics, the economic, social and cultural status of people living in those areas is examined. The study shows that for some reasons the domestic spaces of the low-income housing are being transformed in course of time since their establishment. And the transformation of domestic spaces reflects the overall housing transformation of the settlement.