Thesis (BS Architecture) -- University of the Philippines Mindanao, 2007

Social stratification takes place anywhere in the world. It is an inevitable phenomenon that transforms developing communities into its aesthetic and environmental state. In a developing city, communities and land-uses are disorganized and poor in aesthetic sense. Houses sprout anywhere in the city, whether formally or informally constructed. In Kidapawan, housing preferences in terms of spaces, architectural elements and environmental quality are determined from a set of respondents that are stratified based on their mean family income. These sets of preferences are analyzed according to commonalities and differences among upper class, middle class, and lower class. A model community that incorporates the common preferences of people without compromising the basic laws and concepts of architecture is introduced. This community discourages social discrimination and segregation but encourages social mobility, harmony, and peace among residents.