Abstract:
Housing politics in Kerala has historically combined welfare-oriented state interventions with strong grassroots mobilisation, as seen in the One Lakh Housing Scheme of 1972, which popularised homeownership among the economically weaker sections despite falling short of its numerical goals. This approach to viewing housing as both a socio-cultural right and a tool for reducing class inequality is central to policy and design. The site of this study is situated in Vilappilsala, a peri-
urban town in Thiruvananthapuram. The state government has initiated efforts to provide adequate housing under schemes such as the LIFE Mission and PMAY (Urban), especially given that nearly 18% of the population in the taluk falls under the houseless category. Set within Kerala’s evolving rural–urban continuum, the research looks into the standardized housing models and community-centric approaches to propose a housing solution. The research looks into the vital role of community in shaping and sustaining Economically Weaker Section (EWS) housing, emphasizing its deep connections to livelihood, shared infrastructure, and everyday life. Often times, these collective needs are often overlooked, resulting in environments that lack liveability and long-
term social sustainability. Although people from economically weaker sections may build and adapt their homes over time, their access to community spaces, facilities, and activities is often limited. Moving beyond conventional metrics of affordability and density, for EWS housing to truly function as a habitat, it must integrate the socio-cultural and economic fabric of its inhabitants. The research explores the concepts of multifunctionality and flexibility in housing and architecture, grounded in everyday practices, occupational patterns, and local aspirations. The proposal envisions a community-centric model of EWS housing that incorporates shared thresholds, street edges, and gathering spaces at its core, reframing housing as a dynamic and dignified urban environment. Keywords: EWS Housing, Community Centric, Multifunctionality, Socio-Cultural
