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. 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.