Housing and Human Needs

Human needs refer to the personal priorities of human to have a vital life. Human needs may be
physiological and physical needs. Physiological needs are thought to be the most important; they
should be met first. Physical needs or the most basic human needs are shelter, water, food, rest.
Air, water, and food are metabolic requirements for survival in all animals, including humans.
Clothing and shelter provide necessary needs for every human but some modern lists emphasize
the minimum level of consumption of 'basic needs' cause they include also sanitation, education
and healthcare. But lets focus in the shelter needs. Why Housing? Well housing means
improvement of health and safety. And humans are able to survive only if they are healthy and
secure. This is the main reason of why housing is so important. Factors affecting housing are
personal priorities, space, costs, roles and lifestyle. Firstly lets start with human needs.

Shelter is the basic human requirement that needs to be met on priority basis. It is much broader
concept than housing. Investments in shelter not only improve and expand the available stock of
housing units, but also improve both the working and living environment. While it may be
difficult to prove, there are impressionistic links between improvements in housing and increased
productivity, health, and other measures of well-being. Housing sector is employment intensive;
it generates employment during its construction period and also during its life for proper
maintenance.

The problem during housing process is to design houses in which full relationships are free to
evolve man, wife, children, grandparentsand in which extended and inter-family relationships
are facilated.

Providing shelter has actually two basic phases, the pre-construction phase and the construction
phase!

- The pre-construction includes the processing and 3 phases of design; processing is the
gathering the work team to do the paperwork for the building. The team is usually
consisted from the building owner, architect, construction manager, whom duty is to
work directly with the building owner and who has to oversee a team of builder,
engineers, supplier, etc., which are hired to design the building and supply drawings to
contractors.

- 3 Phases of Design:

Schematic Design: Preliminary drawings of exterior elevations, floor plans & sections
completed by architect, approximately 20% of design completed.
Design Development: More detailed drawings that include structural, electrical and mechanical
requirements, interior design and lighting (from hired sub-contractors) by architect and a division
of work breakdown of builders, approximately 50% of design completed.

Construction Drawings: Final construction with final specifications and materials that are
detailed enough for the construction manager to estimate cost and build the project, 100 % of
design completed.

- The Construction Phase it`s scheduled as below:

Ground Breaking & Mobilization: Builders occupy the construction site and transport heavy
equipment. The construction manager oversees contract documentation to ensure that the
contractors have all necessary permissions, tools and equipment and everything is of expected
quality, on schedule and on budget.

Out Of Ground: Site clearing, moving of soil and ground cover, excavation begins and
construction of foundation flat work. The architect monitors the work and will respond to
requests for information and submit new drawings to builder if any changes are to be made. The
construction manager oversees the process making sure everything is of expected quality on
schedule and on budget.

Topping Out: Frame complete, windows installed, roof, interior framing, rough
plumbing/electrical may begin. The architect monitors the work and will respond to request for
information and submit new drawings to contractor if any changes are to be made. The
construction manager oversees the construction process making sure everything is of expected
quality, on schedule, and on budget, all documentation i collected, and overall project quality
assurance implantation is implemented.

Weather Tight: Exterior siding, all doors & windows installed, lighting, masonry and structure
is weather/water proof are done. The architect monitors the work and will submit new drawings
to contractor if any changes are to be made. The construction manager oversees the construction
process making sure everything is of expected quality, on schedule and on budget.

Ready to Close-In: Frame is inspected and rough electrical is completed. The architect monitors
the work and will submit new drawings to contractor if any changes are to be made, preparing
punch lists and acceptance of work. The construction manager coordinated the work of the
owners interior contractors, furniture deliveries and equipment installers, and reviews the
documentation for the facility manager to prepare for occupancy.

Finish Stage: drywall, cabinets, carpet and fixture are being accommodated. The architect
reviews quality and prepares final acceptance documentation. The construction manager
compiles all documentation required by Facility Manager on behalf of owner.