Low-cost housing in Mbekweni

A public/private consultancy project has launched a low-cost housing development in Mbekweni, South Africa. The aim was to deliver low-cost housing that was sustainable and inclusive, allowing those without skills or jobs to ‘learn and earn’. Workers used industry waste to create building materials, and other materials like bricks were recovered from demolition and reused. The buildings, long and narrow in shape, have an additional loft floor and small rentable roof space. Upper internal structures were made with local timber—allowing for easily taught construction processes, thus facilitating women to participate in building. Other design features, such as heavy insulation, keep out heat, and rainwater collection tanks, solar water geysers, food gardens and vine sun-shading improve food security and living conditions for the residents.