Flexible and Sustainable Affordable Housing in Al-Qubba Municipality, Libya: An Applied Architectural-Urban Model

Abstract

This study explores a flexible, sustainable, and affordable housing model for Al-Qubba, Libya, capable of responding to changing household size and needs without requiring the full construction cost at initial occupancy. A research-by-design methodology was adopted. The process combined a theoretical framework on affordability, adaptability, and incremental growth; a comparative reading of Byker in the United Kingdom, Aranya in India, and Tamansourt in Morocco; and site and program analysis. The resulting proposal includes a neighborhood plan with a hierarchy of movement, services, and public spaces, together with two dwelling types of 100 and 120 m². Both types retain a fixed, cost-intensive service core while allowing lower-complexity living zones to be modified or expanded. Design-based evaluation indicates preliminary achievement of adaptability, public–private gradation, and phased implementation criteria. However, life-cycle cost, thermal performance, constructability, and user acceptance still require quantitative validation. The study concludes that combining a fixed service core, a regular structural grid, and pre-planned expansion paths offers a practical basis for adaptable affordable housing in medium-sized Libyan cities.