This study aims to clarify spatial composition of residential environment which was spontaneously created in squatter area along drainage channel in Steung Mean Cheay in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Occupation by dwellers was started in 1985 forming residential area above drainage channel and lands along with the channel. As of 2011, there are 75 households and 301 inhabitants living in the area.
The area so–called as slum or squatter is regarded as a place to be cleaned out from the standpoints of its vulnerability to natural disasters, criminality and hygienic environment. On the other hand, it can be evaluated as the habitation with a variety of living activities, cultivating fertile community and spontaneous/continuous self–build3). This study focuses on Steung Mean Cheay, as a case of spontaneous formulation of living environment in squatter area which provides wealthy living environment by individual renewal of housings, to clarify composition of external space in the settlement which is formulated by individual self–build activities without changing building sites and landform. Characteristics of spatial composition in spontaneous living environment along drainage channel are concluded below.
Housing plan is classified into four types with two basic spatial patterns as “living access” and “separated kitchen”. Intermediate areas are classified into five types which are planned to ensure connection between spaces outside home.
External space is utilized for four types of activities: 1) personal activity, 2) household activity, 3) commercial activity and 4) leisure activity. Commercial and leisure activities are dominant among those activities. Females take important role to generate those activities. Intermediate space functions to formulate vibrant space with a variety of those activities.
Cross sections of external space have a variety of patterns formulated by different ways of connection between lower, upper parts of the sections and intermediate spaces which keep changing frequently. These various types of sections as well as living activities at intermediate space stimulate vibrant views to pedestrians.
Sequence of alleyways is varied due to following spatial factors; panoramic intermediate space, perspective and skew of alleyways and existence of external living activities. Those stimulant factors range at short, medium and long distance and induce pedestrians’ gaze–up action, which turns into a variety of perspectives.
