Alemayehu Hailemariam

Abstract

Residential plots in Woreda 2, one of Woredas in Akaki-Kality sub city, Addis Ababa have small housing units known as “Service biet”/“Yegowro biet”. Residents first built them as supplementary services units (traditional kitchen, external bathroom/toilet or store) for the main house. However, the majority residents have been progressively extending these housing units to add room/s for different purposes. 

This thesis examines secondary dwelling units’ (Service biet) extension in Woreda 2. The study was designed to better understand why and how secondary dwelling units have been extending for the past twenty years. Data were collected from randomly selected thirty households by using semi structured interview. Housing surveys were conducted to gather data concerning secondary dwelling units’ extension; family motivation for the extensions and space use through mapping, sketching and photograph. Household case stories were used to better understand the phenomenon of secondary dwelling units’ extension. Secondary data: different maps, published and unpublished documents and archival study were used.

Based on the collected data and the analysis made, the study found families space needs that led the extension of secondary dwelling units. These are: rental income, home based business, accommodation of matured and married children, accommodation of close relatives and to add functional space for the primary house. Furthermore, the major initiation and purpose for extending secondary units in Woreda 2 were for accommodation of married children and to generate income through rental and home based business units. The study also found that the extension of secondary dwelling units relatively produce rapid, convenient, affordable varieties of housing options. In addition, it is a means of income generation for livelihood improvements. The study showed secondary dwelling units’ extensions were hidden developments. The change of the neighborhood’s form or character because of secondary dwelling units and its extension is minimum.

Finally based on findings, study recommends secondary dwelling units could be convenient planning strategy to inhabit and to supply affordable housing options for the growing urban population. The study also recommends proper building regulations concerning secondary dwelling units to improve, to achieve livability standards and for the efficient utilization of the dwelling units. 

 Abnet Gezahegn

Abstract
The recent redevelopment activities in the inner city of Addis Ababa have led to the demolition of built heritage and historic neighborhoods. To this end, an in-depth   study on a particular architectural heritage located in the historic inner city along two of the old streets  of the city and the context around was selected as the focus  of this    study. Qualitative approach was employed in data collection. This study documents the architectural heritage and urban traces along these streets through direct observation, physical mapping and photographs. It also seeks out to understand the balance between the fast paced redevelopment oriented urban renewal endeavors    and heritage preservation in the inner city through researching the  process of preservation on  the selected case.       

The findings show that residents and business owners in the study area consider both tangible and intangible heritage as urban traces, which is a completely different perspective as compared to the heritage selection and registration employed by the relevant government offices that only focus on the former. Urban traces found through the study belong to four different categories: Architectural heritage, heritage activities, heritage personalities and marks of historic occurrences. The level of awareness on and contribution to the heritage and urban traces among the current residents and business owners that are predominantly tenants is higher than the building owners  and  rightful heirs that live else where due to one major reason. The current residents and business owners base their livelihood on the heritage and have grown attached to    the heritage over the years playing a major role in the protection and preservation of the same, while the actual heirs have lost attachment with the heritage with this regard. Demolished heritage buildings are still considered as urban traces and architectural heritage among the community in the study area. Gap is also identified in the basic  definition and understanding of heritage and heritage preservation among different stakeholders resulting in hindrance of the latter. Coordination also lacks among different    government offices involved in heritage preservation, city renewal planning and implementation.                   

The study recommends: the establishment of a framework in government offices to involve the community in historic neighborhoods in the  identification, inventory,    assessment, protection and preservation of heritage to achieve sustainable outcomes; the registration and preservation of heritage in the inner city that includes intangible    heritage and the entire historic context; the establishment of an accountable  authority dealing with urban renewal and heritage preservation; the redirection of renewal   endeavors towards conservation approach focusing on expansion areas for development and revitalizing the inner city through conservation endeavors, this would prosper Addis Ababa in the long run.   

 Metadel Sileshi

Abstract

Researches were conducted on the housing issues such as physical condition, transformation, identity and so on. The importance of common places and their use as part of the activities that takes place and the significance of these activities for inner-city neighborhoods of Addis Ababa, however, were not given much weight. Thus, the main objective of the research is to explore activities of common places in one of these neighborhoods.

To investigate this, a case study approach was selected, as it is the best fit for descriptive, explanatory and exploratory questions. Moreover, it is the most appropriate to collect data in a natural setting. Accordingly, qualitative data is collected in the form of semi structured in-depth interviews, mapping, photography and notes from personal observations. The case area, Abnet, was chosen based on the fact that it’s a dense inner-city informal settlement. The research focuses on streets and shared compounds of a neighborhood. The streets based on activities taking place and other geographical features, are sub divided into two main categories, namely access and nodal streets, and small neighborhood streets, which are more intimate serving mostly residents of immediate compounds. A total of ten streets and seven compounds were studied.

Accordingly, the main findings are: activities can be classified into four major categories namely, business activities, recreational activities, household activities and Social/cultural activities. It was revealed that, overlap of different types of activities is a common scenario. The type of places the activities occupy are found to depend on the types of activities. The research strongly suggests that overlap of activities is useful for maximum utilization of space with other socio-economic and recreational advantages and that it should be fostered. When planning and designing common places there should be hierarch of common places and they should be planned in a way that they can accommodate layers of activities.

 Melaku Eticha

Abstract
The main objective of this study was to investigate the relocation process, and its impacts on relocated residents through the analysis of case study selected from the inner city of Addis Ababa. The study was carried out by collecting data from primary and secondary sources.  Data from these sources were gathered mainly through archival analysis, survey, interviews, physical observation and mapping. These data were analyzed through appropriate qualitative and quantitative techniques. Mainly two categories of relocated households were investigated: relocatees to Kebele houses, and relocatees to condominium buildings in the city. The study found that the transformation of older deteriorating inner city has not been realized without the demolishing of structures as well as displacement of the original residents from  the site. The other findings with respect to negative impacts are: moving to areas planned for future intervention, unaffordable housing, incurring high transportation cost, loss of income, loss of social network. The findings with respect to positive impacts are: access to security of tenure, opportunity of reestablishing social net work (Iddir) among relocatees of the new site, improvement of the physical condition, and improvement of utilities and facilities. Finally, the study recommends that, relocation must be made in large number in order to preserve social ties, stakeholders participation should be mandatory at all levels of the process, community development activity should be supported through credit and saving schemes, Although access to credit and training of relocatees to commence income generating activities is an appreciable deed on the governments side, it is limited in scope and not benefiting all relocatees as such. Therefore, more emphasis should be given for such activity.  

 Pityas Teshome

Abstract

This research papers deals with transformation of rural open spaces of the Guraghe region and the degree of influence caused by the introduction of modern public facilities in the region.  The research particularly focuses on a rural open space termed as “JEFWERE” that represents the wide road between houses and the public open space defined by “Tukul” houses of the Guraghe. The research methodology employed was a case study type with data collection run using, a photographic mapping of daily activities of the residents and conduction of detailed interviews in selected case study areas.

The study area selection criteria were based on the information obtained from the research program known as SRDU (Sustainable Rural Dwelling Unit), under the institute of EiABC. The research team was undergone a research on Guraghe region rural housing problems and housing conditions. And the diverse case study areas were selected according to their different geographical locations and landscape orientation within the Guraghe region.

The research conducted in four basic case study areas in the Guraghe region clearly illustrates that the transformation of rural public open spaces has been caused as a result of the influence created due to the expansion of transport and infrastructure facilities, and gradual urbanization of the region by local and foreign investors. In addition the introduction of a new land use system development has forced the replacement of previous free plots by large factories and introduction of a new type of semi-rural settlement patterns.

The findings of the research implicate the ever growing influence of urbanization on the Jefwere and provide concrete evidence that a better understanding of incorporating Jefwere into the modernization of the region must be given due concern and additional design proposals must be considered to urbanize the region while preserving the basic essences of the Jefwere.