IMPROVING HOUSING SUSTAINABILITY AND AFFORDABILITY IN PALESTINE

Abstract

Housing sustainability and affordability in Palestine have become increasingly critical in recent decades. Given the complexity and multifaceted nature of the problem, a comprehensive approach is necessary to address the challenges, including a lack of public awareness, funding, political insecurity, and an ineffective regulatory framework. Despite the persistent shortage of sustainable and affordable housing options in Palestinian cities, it is crucial to adopt an alternative approach to housing provision. The primary goal of this study was to provide design considerations for appropriate and suitable sustainable housing, as well as to develop a design model for sustainable and affordable housing provision in Palestine. To achieve this goal, a comprehensive literature review was conducted worldwide to identify assessment indicators from the critical success criteria, success factors, challenges, and drivers for achieving sustainable affordable housing. Based on the previous findings, an assessment model with 70 indicators for housing sustainability and affordability performance was developed and validated to ensure that are considered during the design process. Since Palestinian cities are affected by both individual and regional factors, a more in-depth study was conducted in Hebron city. This study analyzed case studies to establish local design considerations in sufficient detail to ensure appropriate design responses for this specific region. This Thesis presented the findings of a scoping study that investigated the various factors influencing the design and delivery of affordable and sustainable housing in Palestine. This factor was identified at each stage of the design process and, if implemented, has the potential to significantly contribute to the provision of appropriate sustainable and affordable housing in Palestine. The findings of the research are intended to assist architects, engineers, and organizations in making decisions for housing design implementation that result in sustainable and affordable housing. Keywords: Sustainable housing, Affordable housing, Assessment model, Success criteria, Success factors, Indicators, Housing design process, Design strategies.