Purpose
The global housing shortage, intensified by climate change, poses unique challenges for low-income populations, particularly in regions highly vulnerable to environmental hazards, such as the Caribbean. This study investigates housing in Saint Martin, where communities face severe housing shortages and increased exposure to climate-related threats, such as Hurricane Irma in 2017. With limited external support, many residents have adopted self-building strategies, constructing and incrementally modifying their homes to withstand local environmental risks and accommodate changing needs.

Design/methodology/approach
This research, conducted through ethnographic observations and semi-structured interviews with 30 residents, explores how low- and middle-income households built and adapted their homes over time, focusing on the construction process, materials, forms and aspects of safety, comfort and beauty. It follows the narratives of six housing units that exemplify a proposed housing typology and documents residents’ efforts to enhance durability, functionality and aesthetics under challenging circumstances.

Findings
The findings highlight that self-organized housing practices in Saint Martin are shaped by financial constraints, climate risks and evolving household needs. Residents use incremental construction, climate-responsive design elements, materials perceived as durable and community-based support to adapt their homes.

Originality/value
Documented housing practices reflect both resilience and cultural expression, emphasizing the need for community-inclusive, safe, flexible and climate-adapted housing design approaches. Additionally, by analyzing these adaptive strategies, the study offers insights for the Designing for Flow Framework, promoting housing solutions that align with local contexts and contribute to sustainable development in hazard-prone areas like the Caribbean.

The urgency of addressing housing challenges in low-income areas is increasing due to widening socio-economic inequalities and the worsening impact of natural disasters. Saint Martin, a small Caribbean island, is struggling to provide affordable housing amidst hurricanes, floods, and heat waves. As a result, there has been a rise in self-organized housing units, which are built incrementally and are susceptible to risks. The main challenge is to balance durability, functionality, and esthetic appeal over time. Inspired by St. Martin’s self-organized units, this article explores housing considerations in low-income, hazard-prone contexts by emphasizing their temporalities. Integrating insights from a formative study, including a literature review and ethnographic research, the paper draws on Stewart Brand’s “Layers of Change” and the concept of “Flow”. The study identifies layers within self-organized units corresponding to durability, functionality, and esthetic appeal. It delves into their connection with building activities over time, unveiling the temporalities of housing considerations. This exploration leads to the proposition of “Designing for a Flow” as a novel design approach. Offering practical insights within a concise framework, the study provides nuanced perspectives on mitigating housing challenges in low-income and hazard-prone contexts.