AN EXPLORATION INTO THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF ALTERNATIVE HOUSING PRACTICE

Abstract

The 21st century is the century of environment and sustainable development. Today architects and city planners are expected to think up new neighbourhoods and cities, new public spaces, new means for production of historical urban heritage and transform land into a city with superior living conditions and in an environmentally-friendly manner. Sustainable architecture is a general term that describes environmentally conscious design techniques in the field of architecture. Sustainable architecture or sustainable alternative construction is framed by the larger discussion of sustainability and the pressing economic and political issues of our world. In the broad context, sustainable construction seeks to minimize the negative environmental impact of buildings by enhancing efficiency and moderation in the use of materials, energy, and development space. The idea of sustainability, or ecological design, is to ensure that our actions and decisions today do not inhibit the opportunities of future generations. The term can be used to describe an energy and ecologically conscious approach to the design of the built environment. If sustainability is to be given a shape, it will be a circle. Any aspect of living that can keep moving in a circle without interfering with objects outside this circle can be termed as sustainable. The key to architectural or constructure sustainability is to work with, rather than against Nature; to be sensitive so that we do not damage the natural systems. This qualitative study attempts to explore and throw light into Alternative Housing Practice through the experience of people who are shifted from the conventional housing practice to this sustainable housing practice in Kerala. The study adopted a multiple case study design. Three families who are now living in a sustainable Alternative House for six or more than that has been selected as participants using snowball sampling. The study made use of In-depth interviews with the help of a semi structured interview guide. The qualitative cases were subjected to thematic analysis for the interpretation of the data and findings were drawn. The study tried to understand and explore the different themes of the lived experience of people following alternative housing practice includes inspiration to choose this path, expectations hold, the transition process of this alternative journey, the life they view before and after choosing this housing practice and the challenges encountered as well as the ways of overcoming these challenges. The findings revealed that there are strong rooted value system, behavioural practice and clear ideas and perspectives to lead an eco-friendly life for people as well as their self- determination and self-confidence well played a role in facing the exclusion and discouragement from the near friends and social circle. The support of the spouse and other close family members were vital to move with the decision to follow Alternative Housing Practice. The findings suggested that, it would be a better enough if this area is further explored in-depth using phenomenological approach as this study is one of the first try to investigate the lived experiences of Alternative Housing Practice in Kerala. There is a dearth of research in this area in Kerala context also as well as in the Indian and Western. This study would also contribute to the knowledge base of social work especially to the practical implication to the field of Ecological Social Work.