INTRO

During the last few decades, housing developments and markets have been globally facing many challenges, one of which is the project land in terms of availability and cost. Consequently, the social thought/trend of either having a lifetime housing unit or purchasing a house by a young family has not been applicable economically in almost all countries. 

 

In the Bahrain context, land availability will be a main concern in the near future according to some governmental reports whereas land cost has been a main issue/reason of the increasingly high cost of the house. The social thought and awareness should be enlightened by those facts. A major shift and move, especially in the low-cost housing units, should be taken to apply the housing change from houses to apartments.

 

DESIGN CHALLENGE

The main goal of this housing development is to establish an innovative design for vertical residential units that will not only add value to the current layouts in the market but also will attract young families to adopt an apartment-life style. Moreover, this housing development should satisfy the developers’ needs.

 

Beside the foregoing goal, there are main objectives that should be included in the design:

- Affordable housing industry refers to a mortgage of BHD 81,000 for a house. Using apartments should reduce this to BHD 60,000

- Sustainable design, suitable construction materials and building methods are some means to provide more reliable designs.  

- Attraction facilities and services should be provided for inhabitants of this housing development to add more value and Attractiveness. 

- The housing development should reflect three main themes; Green, Efficiency and Sustainability (GES).