Affordable and Quality Housing

12.09.2009

Rural house in our usual sense is a humble dwelling built of raw bricks, with a stove heated by wood or coal, with a garden and domestic animals. There has been no way to talk about amenities close to urban ones. But today Uzbekistan is fundamentally changing these stereotypes, our villages grow better year by year. Reforms in agriculture have brought about a new owner of land, a farmer who stands out more firmly on his feet. The state’s concern and villagers’ growing opportunities can transform the shape of the countryside, create living environment similar to urban one.

In the year of rural development and improvement

With the initiative of the president, this passing year under the motto Year of Rural Development and Improvement gave yet another powerful impetus for such changes. In the framework of the state program, large-scale projects are implemented for further improvement of the village which is known to be largely the basis for the prosperity of the country.

In his speech at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers arranged for outcomes of socioeconomic development in 2008 and priorities of the economic program for 2009, President of Uzbekistan stressed that at a time when many countries suffer from the impact of global financial crisis, we should also contemplate on the post-crisis period, a new stage and fundamentally new level of development, on achieving even higher barriers.

He said in particular that “our most important priority that needs special focus is the enforcement of a wide range of long-term, deeply interrelated measures aimed at radical improvement of life quality and appearance of rural areas, accelerated development of social and production infrastructure.”

Today, one of the most important directions in this work is represented by the specialized exhibition of projects of private houses for rural population and building materials, held in Uzexpocenter. Here one can observe firsthand what will the Uzbek village be like in the coming years.

The exhibition, attended by architects, designers and manufacturers of building materials and equipment, electrical and household appliances, wholesale and retail trade companies, representatives of rural areas from all over the country, includes such specialized sections as model projects for rural homes, socio-cultural buildings; gypsum board, tile, brick and roof coverings; furniture, decoration materials, sanitary ware, plastic pipes and fittings, construction machinery, small machinery, equipment and facilities used in construction, sandwich panels, window frames and doors.

Living in a village with urban comfort

In front of exhibition complex’s pavilions, visitors can spot a number of life-size houses of modern design, but in... cutaway view. As organizers explained, visitors can not only perceive the looks of a countryside house, but also get acquainted with the technological process of construction, materials used.

Right at the entrance to the main exhibition pavilion, a draft model of a rural residential complex is showcased, which includes houses, as well as social and cultural facilities: schools, retailer stores, medical facilities, sports grounds. This, of course, quite unlike our outdated kishlaks, rather resembles a small town of modern type.

Such experimental samples of human settlements are quickly growing in 42 districts of the republic. Now there are allocated lands, comprehensive expertise is conducted to enquire into a wide range of issues including creation of transport and engineering services. In the nearest future, such modernized, comfortable and cozy villages will emerge in every region of Uzbekistan.

This great, ambitious project starts in Uzbekistan at a time when many countries suffer the consequences of the global financial and economic crisis accompanied by elimination of enterprises, curtail in social projects. Despite this, Uzbekistan has the opportunity due to the timely adopted Anti Crisis Program and objectives set by the head of state for the development of the country in the post-crisis period.

The exhibition demonstrated works by the leading design institute, Qishloqqurilishloyiha, established by a special decree of the president. Its main objectives include conducting a unified policy on integrated development of rural construction, developing master plans and projects of architectural and planning organization of construction in rural settlements and territories, development of new model projects of rural residential houses, socio-cultural, sanitary and domestic facilities in villages with the use of modern building materials and technologies, taking into account climatic conditions and socio-demographic features of regions.

From now on, the main urban-planning document for the development and building of rural settlements will be a master plan worked out and approved in due course. The state program ensures a phased provision of rural settlements and areas with master plans with account to engineering and social infrastructures.

Visitors of the exhibition were presented with nearly 50 projects of rural residential houses meeting modern standards of architecture and design. As architects emphasize, this followed after an inventory of all villages and rural regions of the country. A database of villages’ urban-planning culture, current state of houses, population growth, climatic conditions and landscape has been compiled. All these factors were taken into account in the preparation of model projects.

Models of one- and two-storey one- and two-family houses of traditional and improved comfort have been drawn up for rural housing projects, taking into account climatic, engineering and geological conditions. Given account to demographic peculiarities of rural families, they are provided from three to seven rooms in one- and two-storey houses.

All types of homes are equipped with modern engineering, their design solution are unified with maximum use of domestic construction and finishing materials. Designers of model projects selected provisions for energy-saving materials and equipment. Including new wall materials: foam blocks, three-layer modular panels, such as “sandwich”, solar energy, energy-efficient boilers for heating and hot water.

For improving ecological condition in rural settlements, master plans include provisions for wind rose, planting shrubs and trees prevalent in the area, outbuildings, zoning for industrial and residential sites.

Participants can familiarize themselves with the activity of Qishloq Qurilish Bank created by a special presidential decree for providing loans and financing rural housing projects, as well as appropriate crediting mechanisms, services offered to the population by engineering company Qishloq Qurilish Invest which is responsible for rural housing. Another important aspect here is that Qishloq Qurilish Invest provides turnkey construction of rural houses.

In addition, the exhibition introduces the work of the Uzmontajmahsusqurilish association, Information and Research Center and National Institute for Engineering Research of Construction.

The exhibition clearly demonstrates that the changes in the countryside will be even more significant. In turn, improvements in rural construction will provide a powerful impetus for creation and development of many related industries. And this means that there will be new businesses opened, more jobs created.

Since the beginning of the year the country has done a lot for the development and improvement of villages and there is still much to do, but most important, it has given a push to reviving the countryside, raising life quality in rural areas to a new level.