Underpriviledged Neighborhoods Of Ulaanbaatar

Mongolia has been facing an onslaught of rural migration to the urban areas with negative consequences. Traditionally the country’s economy was based on survival livestock herding. Nowadays, the country’s economic prospects are due to rich and abundant mineral deposits. Some researchers believe Mongolia will be the next Dubai. However the general panorama of the country is not completely brilliant. In Mongolia’s growing cities migrants have erected rural nomadic felt tents, known as ger. The traditional gers are sustainable structures. They are very well adapted for a nomadic society but, when they are located in high-density, unplanned and informal settlements, they create many issues. These informal urban areas lack sanitation, adequate vehicular access and other basic services. The traditional use of wood and coal for heating contributes to heavy air pollution, especially in the winter season.This paper presents some of the findings of more than 114 household surveys, held in the summer of 2012, related to housing conditions in three informal Ger districts of Ulaanbaatar. This paper describes some aspects of Ger households, discusses how quickly the Ger districts are growing and explains their relation to the increasing problems of the city.Also this paper will critically analyze most aspects of the problems and give recommendations where necessary. Finally it concludes how Mongolia needs to develop and grow according to sustainable parameters otherwise pristine nature and cultural values such as the Vernacular Architecture will be lost.