Integration of Affordable Housing and Green Residential Building Design in the Construction Sector in Cambodia

By 2030, the expected doubling of the urban population in Cambodia warns of housing shortage and under-supply of infrastructure. Cambodia adopted a national policy to promote the development of housing projects that need an additional 50,000 homes a year and 800,000 new affordable units to be built to meet the growing housing demand. The groups of population that urgently need affordable homes, low- to middle-income people, access fewer quality housing and well-being living opportunities and it is particularly difficult because of barriers associated to the construction sector. To this day, there are no guidelines and regulations for constructing affordable housing in the perspective of environmentally sustainable building design and adequate housing elements, nor a recognised standard of affordable housing practice and policy in the country. This study aims to define the compatible approaches and concepts of affordable housing and green building design in Cambodia. The study provides qualitative insights into contextual characteristics and definitions, construction cost, residential type, materials and technologies, main focus and implementation strategy of green
affordable housing. The research method is conducted through semi-structured interviews following an exploratory interview and based on an interview guide and prepared hypotheses. The interviews aim to gather points of view and understandings on affordable housing and green residential building design from construction actors and decision makers. Forty professionals were selected in the survey and were categorised into four different groups based on their background and present work. The 40 participating professionals included (a) architects; (b) civil and construction engineers who have worked in the building construction field; (c) green building experts and practitioners; and (d) decision makers (ministry, municipality, founding director and chairman). According to the data interpretation and analysis, suitable approaches adapted to the green affordable housing and sustainable construction sector in Cambodia are finally found.