Smart Buildings as an Approach to Affordable Housing

Currently, the dramatic changes in different aspects of life have a definite influence on housing. Today’s house is no longer tomorrow’s house. Those in the high-income stratum are able to afford such changes; however, individuals in the low-income stratum cannot keep up with these changes given their weak fiscal solvency. Therefore, this study acquires its relevance from this challenge. Superficial approaches to low-cost housing, such as reducing the residential area, using inexpensive materials, and shifting the onus of construction to the householders, are no longer adequate for creating affordable housing. Unlike these approaches, flexibility is the premise of this study. This study aims to determine the closest attempt at flexibility among the formal low-cost housing endeavors in Egypt - as a developing country - that led to the creation of affordable and sustainable housing. This study proposes an appraisal framework based on the strategy of Slimbouwen, or “smart building,” and the qualities derived from flexibility classes. This study concludes that the industrialization of building components is the most salient attempt to create flexible housing. Standardization, modular building components, mass production, and fast construction resulting from industrialization can make a more significant contribution to affordable housing than any of the other attempts.