Evaluation of the Sustainable Aspects In Housing Sector To Overcome Housing Stress In Northern Iraq

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A B S T R A C T Northern Iraq as part of Iraq, has been witnessed a great population increment last few decades. However, housing stress in Northern Iraq has risen due to that. Environmental, economic and social sustainability became crucial in the movement towards a more effective built environment and community nowadays. This research seeks to evaluate the presence of sustainability aspects (environmental, economic, and social) in housing sector, which makes them acquired and affordable for low income earners in Northern Iraq. Housing projects as case studies were investigated in Erbil, the capital of Northern Iraq. The research examined, the presence of sustainability aspects. Field observations checklist have been prepared based on the theoretical analysis through literature review and applied to collect data on the case studies. The results demonstrated that applying the aspects of sustainability for the buildings is weak and not clearly familiar in Northern Iraq. The study concluded that, the housing projects focusing on the case studies not sustainable. The findings show that the application of sustainable principles in the housing projects at Northern Iraq is very weak. It is highly recommended to achieve sustainability, because it is the significant way to produce acquired and affordable housing and overcome the housing problems, socially, environmentally and economically. The recommendations have been suggested to formulate new ways for implementing sustainable principles in the housing sector to overcome housing stress in Northern Iraq.

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Evaluation of the Sustainable Aspects In Housing Sector To Overcome Housing Stress In Northern Iraq * M.Sc. RAHEL MOHAMMED AMIN1, Ph.D. Candidate SALAR SALAH MUHY AL-DIN 2 1 Faculty of Architecture, Department of Architecture, Cyprus International University, Lefkosia, Northern Cyprus 2Student, M. Arch. Girne American University, Northern Cyprus Email: rahel_amin@yahoo.com Email: salars.muhyaldin@yahoo.com A R T I C L E I N F O: Article history: Received 15 June 2018 Accepted 29 June 2018 Available online 1 July 2018 Keywords: Housing; Environ. Sustainability; Economic Sustainability; Social Sustainability; Northern Iraq. A B S T R A C T Northern Iraq as part of Iraq, has been witnessed a great population increment last few decades. However, housing stress in Northern Iraq has risen due to that. Environmental, economic and social sustainability became crucial in the movement towards a more effective built environment and community nowadays. This research seeks to evaluate the presence of sustainability aspects (environmental, economic, and social) in housing sector, which makes them acquired and affordable for low income earners in Northern Iraq. Housing projects as case studies were investigated in Erbil, the capital of Northern Iraq. The research examined, the presence of sustainability aspects. Field observations checklist have been prepared based on the theoretical analysis through literature review and applied to collect data on the case studies. The results demonstrated that applying the aspects of sustainability for the buildings is weak and not clearly familiar in Northern Iraq. The study concluded that, the housing projects focusing on the case studies not sustainable. The findings show that the application of sustainable principles in the housing projects at Northern Iraq is very weak. It is highly recommended to achieve sustainability, because it is the significant way to produce acquired and affordable housing and overcome the housing problems, socially, environmentally and economically. The recommendations have been suggested to formulate new ways for implementing sustainable principles in the housing sector to overcome housing stress in Northern Iraq. CONTEMPORARY URBAN AFFAIRS (2019), 3(1), 67-81. https://doi.org/10.25034/ijcua.2018.4684 www.ijcua.com Copyright © 2018 Contemporary Urban Affairs. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction The building of house can be seen as the most significant investment one can make for his family. Hence, the house has many considerations for a human being in the different levels of his life, such as economic level, social level, and even on psychological and safety levels. The housing sector of every country is a very important part of the country’s economy this is true because bloomed and developed housing sector is an indicator of a strong program of a countries investment and it is a milestone for future economic growth and social cultural development (Joseph, 2006). Nowadays, the world is getting aware of climate changes, global warming and natural resources depletion on the earth. They try hard to achieve sustainable development (Chiu, 2004). The sustainability in term of design and construction solutions could be applied to support the low-income people, and solve the housing demand problems, as well as promote social, economic and environmental aspects of living in Northern Iraq. Northern Iraq has experienced significant social and economic growth in the last decade along with a strong contrast between poverty and wealth. The populated city in this region, and Erbil city, as a capital of the region has also witnessed this phenomenon. The disparity in the living environment demonstrates the gap between rich and poor. The lack of housing policy by the region government increased the housing problems (Faraj, 2014). In Northern Iraq There are a significant number of households with no houses, and the current rate of housing occupancy is relatively high (1.37 household per each housing unit and 2.23 person/room) (Ministry of Planning, 2011). That indicates a large housing deficit (about 250,000 housing units are needed in 2016) according to Ministry of construction and Housing-KRG-Iraq estimates (Ministry of Planning, 2012a). In another hand, the modern houses are neither sustainable nor affordable in meeting the financial and environmental needs of the occupants. Missing of government regulations on affordable and sustainable housing creates an obstacle to the application of sustainable methods. 2. Literature Review 2.1 Housing Housing considers as, one of the fundamental needs of human and it is the most important for his survival after the needs for food (Muhy Al-Din, 2017). Housing, both in units or multiple forms is one of the important parts of community structure, which provide the important need for the human being who is the most important part of the society. The development of the people related to the type and condition of the housing, which consequently develops the countries. It is also an indicator of people level of living and their position in the society (Olayiwola, et al., 2005). The housing can be seen as a big issue mostly for the urban populace and the less privileged areas of the society. The housing problem is agreed as being a complex. This problem seems difficult to solve and it is worldwide. Hence, it is very difficult for any country in the world to meet its housing requirements (Abiodun, 1985). According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs based on Maslow’s theory, shelter, sleep etc coming in the second main needs after biological and physiological needs. If these needs are not met, the human body cannot continue to function (Maslow, 1943). Housing is also one of the basic rights of the human. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), article 25 states; “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services”. When a large number of people living in the city became more competitive, the demand for housing will increase then the gap between housing demand and supply will enlarge if the construction speed is lower than housing demand. The young households and low-income households have the lower competition power and maybe they will become homeless because it is difficult for them to enter the housing market. 2.2 Sustainability and Housing Because of the desires to overcome the environmental problems, which the world facing it in twenty first century, the efforts towards sustainability are now the important subject globally. Quick growth of urbanization will continue rising demand for housing. Housing formulation has developed in remarkable way over the years. The desire for the welfare of future generations is also important. To achieve these desires there is an urgent need to balance urban planning, design and construction. Therefore, sustainability became a necessity and the application of sustainable principles in design and construction is crucial for the survival of natural resources for next generations. United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development (UNWCED), defined Sustainability was defined as that which “meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (1987), (Al Surf, 2014). Sustainable development and housing are directly affect one another, as Section 7.67 of the United Nations’ Agenda 21 states: “The activities of the construction sector are vital to the achievement of the national socio-economic development goals of providing shelter, infrastructure and employment. However, they can be a major source of environmental damage through depletion of the natural resource base, degradation of fragile eco-zones, chemical pollution and the use of building materials harmful to human health”(UN -Agenda 21, 2004). The core of sustainability consists of three main pillars, interlocking circles creates the sustainability. Sustainable development could be elucidating in terms of environmental protection, economic growth, and social development (Adams, 2006). These aspects should be considered in order to implement a desired level of sustainable development. See figure ‘1’.

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