RECONFIGURING HOME SPACES: AN EXPLORATION OF THE SPATIAL DIMENSION OF LOW-INCOME HOUSING FROM THE DWELLERS’ PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Providing quality housing has been a major agenda item in the effort to achieve a decent standard of living for all Malaysians by 2030. However, previous housing schemes especially for low-income people have shown no signs of further innovation in improving the quality of domestic space based on the findings of previous studies which continue to discuss the suitability of space design with the social patterns of dwellers. This article investigated the underlying knowledge from the perspective of the dwellers through the exploration of the spatial dimension. Using the creative method, this study processed the information from the dwellers on how the domestic activities were transferred to the dreamhouse model and revealed how the spatial order can be reconfigured creatively by the designer. This research clearly illuminated the underlying knowledge of spatial characteristics based on low-income opinions.