Endeavors to improve the living standards of slum dwellers in developing countries, while well-intentioned, have nearly always failed. In many cases these good intentions have been compromised from the start due to the approach taken whereby residents are "temporarily" relocated without consent and subsequently forced to create a new life that is difficult to adapt to. Makoko, a slum located in a lagoon off the coast of Lagos, Nigeria, is recognized as the world's largest floating slum. It has grown into what is now seen by government officials as a visual nuisance; not coincidentally, the waterfront site is being labeled as prime real estate by developers. This thesis hopes to serve as a precedent for affordable housing with a more community-oriented approach. Using autonomous principles as its foundation, this proposal hopes to create templates for the residents to follow to help in the revitalization of their own homes.