A house is a basic and fundamental human need. In a literal sense, a house provides warmth, shelter, and security. Beyond its physical nature, the concept of ‘house’ is deeply ingrained in human civilization as the space where the institution of family is nurtured. It is a place that reflects a person’s identity, living conditions, human values, aspirations, future expectations, and one’s social and cultural identity. However, despite the global recognition of its importance, many millions of people in the world live either without safe habitable housing or without any housing at all. This situation is common in developing counties, especially in urban areas. The thesis is motivated by a sincere effort to practically address the problems of housing in the city of Colombo, in particular the scarcity of habitable housing for low-income people. The Colombo City Development Plan (UDA 2008) revealed that there were 66,000 households within the city of Colombo living in under-served settlements considered unfit for human habitation. This figure represents 51 percent of the city’s population (UDA 2008). Since gaining independence in 1948, the Sri Lankan Government has devoted much attention to finding a solution to this situation and has introduced a number of policies, programs, and projects to address the issue of under-served settlements with varying degrees of success. High-rise housing for low-income people is one option that has been chosen by the current Sri Lankan government in the hope of rehousing those who currently live in under-served settlements in Colombo in sustainable, safe, and affordable housing.