View Full Version : Informal housing in South Africa
My thesis this year started out as an investigation of 'making' and the idea that making is fundamental to my udnerstanding of architecture.
I have looked at design/build projects from around the world, and played with the idea of building as empowerment- at how people are empowered through building their own buildings.
The next thing was to look at vernacular architectural traditions, as a source of user-built architecture to supplement my academic/professional background.
Orange Farm is a distant township of Johannesburg, with about 400 000 families living in extreme poverty (50% unemployment, high HIV-AIDS rates). I am working with an NGO who do work with child-headed and sibling households, and our current project is to look at a construction training programme for the older children.
The difficulty is in reconciling the informal/vernacular with what my training and experience tells me is suitable architecture. None of the houses I looked at in Orange Farm were remotely code-compliant, but most of them were livable, and if I were to introduce a fully furnished, entry level 'low cost' house it would be twice as large as the neighbouring buildings and be the only building on the street with electricity and internal running water.
Our thinking at the moment is to tend towards looking at the vernacular and introducing new technologies, new methods and basic construction knowledge into the community (many houses are built straight onto the soil, with no foundations or slabs)
The attached photo collage is a set of shots of the shack of one of the families I am looking at helping. 5 of them live in this 10 square metre (100sq.foot) shack with no power, running water from a public tap and no sewage.
The house plan drawn by the family living in this house.
A bit about the family (as an example of the sort of family we are working with)
5 siblings are living in a one room shack, with no running water or electricity and an external flush toilet. Roof, walls and floor are listed as 'very poor'condition, and the breadwinner earns R500 per month. (R500- 4 CDs)
So, what does an architect do in this situation?
There is not enough money to build a house for everyone who needs one.
Is it appropriate to help people build houses that are not code compliant?
Is it better to help makes things a bit better than to leave them as they are?
www.ruralstudio.com (http://www.ruralstudio.com)
I think necessity is the mother of invention. pickup a book or two on rural studio's tactics...I'll chat more about it when I have some time...
imasayer
11-04-2006, 16:53
I think that this is a great thesis idea. Not easy though, of course easy never pays off. I think doing whatever you can to make things better for even one family is important. Code compliance is great, but is it even possible here? Maybe it is. I would just try to get as close as possible.
Here (http://www.redfeather.org/) is a link to a group that builds very inexpensive houses for American Indians. The construction type may not be appropriate but the important thing that they do is to involve the village and teach them how to build. The houses provide them with a sense of community and pride in their work. Once they have built one they are trained and can take on the challenge of building the next one on their own.
Look up Hassan Fathy
Links here on this forum also
msalvarez
11-04-2006, 20:12
I do some work for two non-profits that does humanitarian work in Nicaragua and Kenya.
One thing I try to establish in designs and construction is natural building. In one project we intend to use cob (straw, clay,sand water) and hay bales.
We intend to teach the locals how to build and maintain their homes to empower them to take control of their livelyhood and health. (healthy home=healthy homeowners)
Its cheap,
Its abundant,
Its quick to learn
and if built correctly, its lasts a a long time (cob structures built in the 1800's in the UK still stand today)
Local codes might be an issue, but I doubt codes are being followed now in their construction of the shacks you pictured. But if built correcty, as with any structure, the structure can meet and may exceed requirements.
Here is a sample pic of a local (Portland,Oregon USA) cob/strawbale structure built by and to benfit a homeless community.
Please correct me if I have the wrong handle on this but these people don't have much straw or hay to spare
If these structures are to make sense they have to be made more or less locally & from limited materials with little or no timber
The idea I would broach for at least the wall structure would be to use waste containers fill these with earth & then stack them .. if these containers could be designed so they could be stacked & fitted together to make a rigid structure so much the better The earth fill would act as insulant & heatstore
The idea is similar to sandbags but I would guess most bag material would rot fairly quickly
I would think Tin roofs are far from ideal in this climate when what you need is insulation against fierce sun
Roofs are always a problem so an arch structure from containers may be a useful answer
It needs containers to be purpose made ~ here in UK most of our milk is now in thin plastic rectangular bottles 2 litres normal & they are just thrown away ~ don't know what is available to you locally ~ & in any event it would probably mean the container design has to be adapted
msalvarez
11-04-2006, 22:32
The idea is similar to sandbags but I would guess most bag material would rot fairly quickly
But if they get the right kind of bags it could possibly work. Polypropylene is said to work and resists rot when sealed with some sort of coating (papercrete,cob,mud), burlap can also be used but rots.
Sample from calearth (http://www.calearth.org/EcoDome.htm)
Yes I've seen the Cal earth stuff & am impressed by the dome structures
I'm not saying these structures should be permanent (say a life of 5 year before rebuild) so on that basis maybe they could work in Africa any info on these products finishes & their lifespan?
Also interesting to see so much corrugated tin being used worldwide so an arch of this with bags externally could also work
Juan Gomez-Velez
12-04-2006, 16:33
?eter
How people settle as communities is a field that has been extensively investigated by cultural anthropologists, the catch is that they usually refer to archeological or marginal aboriginal communities, hardly ever contemporary ones.
"Villas miseria", favelas, barriadas or shacktowns are a staple item next to almost all major cities in developing countries, we simply tend to ignore them. Your concern in addressing the needs of those that would never approach an architect for his services is truly commendable.
My recommendation would be to look up the anthropological studies, to follow the patterns of proximity and kinship, as related to site; then look up the possibility of creating a kit of parts, an building vocabulary so to speak, in order to provide a mechanism to create solutions, rather than imposing one, made up of every day materials used in a different way. Wire, mesh, fabric, paper, water, wooden sticks, sheets, stones, sand, botlles, cans. trash bags, broken glass, bamboo, thatch and sheet plastic are just some of the possibilities.
The problem addressed is a moral one, which demands committment. To tackle it is it's own reward
Saludos
Juan
My recommendation would be to look up the anthropological studies, to follow the patterns of proximity and kinship, as related to site; then look up the possibility of creating a kit of parts, an building vocabulary so to speak, in order to provide a mechanism to create solutions, rather than imposing one, made up of every day materials used in a different way. Wire, mesh, fabric, paper, water, wooden sticks, sheets, stones, sand, botlles, cans. trash bags, broken glass, bamboo, thatch and sheet plastic are just some of the possibilities.
Thanks for this Juan.
As much as I love Rural studio, the model they propose is insufficient to address the problem in Johannesburg. Orange Farm has 400 000 households. The NGO I am working with has 649 that it works with, and this is in one informal settlement alone. The idea of formalising the vernacular, understanding what people use already and perhaps introducing them to materials and technologies that are accessible but underutilised, is a very exciting one for me.
To get back to Rural Studio: I LOVE their work- and that is the 'multiplier' in their work- it's not just that they build beautiful houses for people, but that they produce interest in design build work- they use the media to promote the idea, to make their houses about more than just housing people in Mason's Bend. For my project, the multiplier would be the 'tweaking' of the vernacular,making it more energy efficient, using available materials etc.
Thanks for the input so far. Red Feather is new to me but Hassan Fathy is obviously of interest to me as an African model. Also the work of Laurie Baker and Bunker Roy in India (I will post a page of links for innovative cheap construction some time).
Code compliance- I think it's openly acknowledged that the codes have no hope of dealing with this situation. Our South African regulations don't even make allowance for stud-framed timber as a 'standard' construction technique- any such structure requires an engineer to design, while a brick structure designed within certain limits is 'deemed to satisfy' the National Building Regulations.
Earth construction- the soil is very rocky (I helped plant some goalposts in a soccer field the other day, so I know all about the stones) so I don't know how well it is suited to cob, rammed earth etc. but I am wondering whether dry-packed stone (a pretty robust construction technique when you get it right) is suitable. Also a sand-bag type construction might be feasible.
An added difficulty is security- this is not a rural community where everyone knows everyone and supports each other, but a favela-type community with tsotsis (gangsters) who are able to do more or less as they please because there is only one police station (also only one government-appointed social worker and two ambulances) serving the area.
This could help
LINK (http://www.architectureforhumanity.org)
Cameron moved from Manhattan to my university town, about two hours away. Pretty inspiring guy.
If you have rocks then Gabions could be put to good use
Gabions are worth a look, yes. Thanks.
Here's the trick: a shack with slab costs between R2000 and R4000 (4-8 months salary for the family I used in the earlier example). Anything we do needs to be competitive with that price, otherwise it's a little irrelevant- we might be able to fund the first few houses, but their is no sustainability if the funding dries up (having been involved in charity work in 2002 I know how the US funding dried up when it started going into rebuilding Afghanistan, and again how the tsunami and hurricane Katrina diverted money to more urgent needs)
This could help
LINK (http://www.architectureforhumanity.org)
Cameron moved from Manhattan to my university town, about two hours away. Pretty inspiring guy.
Architecture for Humanity was a big part of the inspiration for this type of work- in fact I had a go at submitting some of my previous work for the book that is being released soon. Got to admire what Cameron is doing more or less on his own.
When I looked at Cal earth costs I thought the kit was expensive for what you were getting but the principle stays true .. can even be combined with Gabions & everything else to hand
I remember a TV programme & seeing a guy being presented with a new tin shack 2m x 2m & his joy was just heartbreaking .... so I wish more could help in dealing with these problems & help raise the dignity of this world
any updates for this project...
i'd have thought rammed earth, or rammed earth bricks could be interesting, maybe a soil test would be necessary, and see if it suits, can be done by hand as well....
fmolanphy
30-05-2006, 06:33
I was involved in housign projects done in Honduras after Hurricane Mitch...sponsored by USAID and executed by CHF (chfhq.org). When I saw the post of what the local drew as a blueprint it just reminded me of the lesson i got tought! All my architectural conceptions where thrown out the window,,,what I thought was a living space was completely different from what they thought it was and what they needed. The beneficiary finaly indirectly dictates what will be designed and built.
Also we learned not to thinkg of a final complete solution.....we needed to get help for the greatest amount of people with the amount of money we had...so we did what we called a STARTER HOUSE....a basic dwelling space that they could intuitively add on too on their own, giving them the initial push...we were expected to do 2000 homes with the grant that they gave us..we ended up making 4800 .....it was a life changing experience
naught101
30-05-2006, 06:38
I agree with ouesty, earth building is the cheapest, and easiest to teach method of building basic box houses. mudbricks are easy to make really quickly, and can easily support a timber joist and iron roof, which looks like it might work as you already have the iron on site.
car tyre construction is great too. stack car tyres up, and pack them with earth. VERY comfortable inside.
If you're looking for low cost methods check out owner-builder type magazines: http://www.theownerbuilder.com.au/ there might be something like that in South Africa too. It often has REALLY cheap houses, using innovative methods, some are very nice.
?eter: Commendations on the project, this is the kind of stuff that I really want to work on (when I grow up :D). it looks great.
I would suggest that what you need isn't a way to fix the living conditions of this one small family, that's stupid. what you need is a way to teach a section of the community how to build houses. get 5-15 of the fittest and keenest people (men, women and children), and set up a co-operative. maybe give them some starting funds, to buy tools (let them buy them though), then teach. empower the people.
you say that there's 50% unemployment? people don't like having nothing to do. I'm sure you could find people willing to chip in a (very small) personal equity to set up such a co-operative, then they could build houses for people at super low cost. they could also look at getting grants to keep them going. perhaps a good way to get people involved to start with is to promise them a free house - if they help others build theirs.
oh, and architecture for humanity have a new book coming out in June, called "design like you give a damn" - looks like a great read.
naught101
30-05-2006, 06:42
fmolanphy: that sounds like a great project, got any pictures? perhaps post as a new thread?
that's sort of what I meant in my post as well. it's no use being overly architectural, but you should definately be aware of the vernacular containing destructive myths. for example, My dad, when doing some AID work in Durban, asked the locals what they should make the roofs from. the answer: "asbestos." guess that's what happens when you get all the left over shit from the rich part of the country, and no education.
fmolanphy
30-05-2006, 06:45
by the way, here are some NGOs that did a maginificent job in Honduras with this community training for auto building:
GOAL Ireland
ATLAS Logistics France
hmmm... an update? Thanks for the interest...
Well. things have not been going easily. I have battled a lot with finding an appropriate way of building, with finding a scale to build at, with a theoretical argument to drive things forward.
One of the things I AM doing is working in Soweto with a builder who wants to learn from architects and also teach architects how to build shacks (see the photos of Motsoaledi informal settlement here (http://www.pushpullbar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3284)). In the next 2 weeks or so I hope to build a 2 or 3 room house with him, so that I can say that I know at least a little about this vernacular (timber frame/steel sheeting demountable shack).
I would suggest that what you need isn't a way to fix the living conditions of this one small family, that's stupid. what you need is a way to teach a section of the community how to build houses. get 5-15 of the fittest and keenest people (men, women and children), and set up a co-operative. maybe give them some starting funds, to buy tools (let them buy them though), then teach. empower the people.
Absolutely. My current thinking in terms of a project is to establish a construction school, teaching the older kids how to do basic repairs, alterations etc, and from there move on to showing them how to build. Give them the knowledge, and then step back and see what they create. So the actual design project will probably end up being this construction school/builders yard/youth centre, where the technology used to build it is directly applicable to housing.
Obviously this is work that is urgently needed, and the necessity is not something that is disputed by anyone I have spoken to. BUT at the same time, this is an academic project and the biggest problem I am having is in establishing a theoretical position. At the moment, I am leaning towards an argument that explores the limits of formal architectural training, how what we do as 'self-conscious' architects can relate to 'vernacular' architects. Influences here include Alexander, Habraken and a few others.
So it's been a bumpy ride. I'm learning a LOT, still having fun most of the time, but I need to consolidate my theory so that I can really start kicking ass with this project.
naught101
31-05-2006, 02:04
sounds really good, much respect.
you should look up Khapuka (spelling?) in Durban. It's has a bit more money and resources, but it's tryng to do the same thing. Dad work there for AUSAid in '97-98 doing a project with a similar idea to yours (though I think Soweto probably needs it more urgently).
naught101
31-05-2006, 02:16
this is an academic project and the biggest problem I am having is in establishing a theoretical position. At the moment, I am leaning towards an argument that explores the limits of formal architectural training, how what we do as 'self-conscious' architects can relate to 'vernacular' architects. Influences here include Alexander, Habraken and a few others.Christopher Alexander and ??? Habraken?
perhaps you should look broader in terms of your search for the right theory? I often get the feeling that architects who think about desing only are really limiting themselves. Architects really do affect broader society, and should be aware of that. I think it's well within the profession to look a social structures, and anthropology. perhaps you shouldn't be thinking about single buildings so much, and more about actual township planning?
some recommended reading:
Jane Jacobs - "the Life and Death of Great American Cities" - based on large cities, and Jacobs argues that it shouldn't be used for towns or suburbs, but I disagree, and can already see how it might be useful to your project.
New Internationalist - I think may 2006, or some time around then there was an issue all about Slums (with a yellow cover) - really good read. you should see if you can get a copy, check you library. there are about 5-7 excellent articles that would relate to your project, showing how people, and communities, are fighting their way out of slums. it's great
Obviously this is work that is urgently needed, and the necessity is not something that is disputed by anyone I have spoken to. BUT at the same time, this is an academic project and the biggest problem I am having is in establishing a theoretical position. At the moment, I am leaning towards an argument that explores the limits of formal architectural training, how what we do as 'self-conscious' architects can relate to 'vernacular' architects. Influences here include Alexander, Habraken and a few others.
So it's been a bumpy ride. I'm learning a LOT, still having fun most of the time, but I need to consolidate my theory so that I can really start kicking ass with this project.
?eter,
I haven't read over this whole thread but what I have read I commend you on what you are trying to do... You have brought up some interesting points...
1. this being an acedemic project and having trouble finding a "theory"... well sometimes there just isn't a "theory" to hold onto, from an acedemic standpoint, and you have to draw inspiration from other things... I think the basic needs of living and shelter here are essential...
you could look at basic things like dwelling and what it really means from a Philosophical standpoint... Martin Heidegger (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Heidegger) comes to mind and his ideas of being and dwelling... our connection to the earth and what those things mean...
You could even pull out some type of theoretical basis from the ideas on phenomenology if you really felt like you needed a "thoery" to base your work in.
2. If you don't use the standard "theory" for your work, from the acedemic standpoint, you have the functionality of what these dwellings need to achieve and the relationships of community to draw from. Plus that grand old idea of survival :)
3. and who cares about kissing your profs. asses? are you kidding me? if your work stands on its own and is good solid work that has meaning and is thoughtful then you should do fine. Your in it for yourself and that is all you have to satisfy while being in school... let your talents do the talking, not the professors...
I not once designed to make a professor like my work... sure I didn't ignore their comments and crits but in the end I had my thoughts and ideas in my work and let that be what got me through... and I usually got the top grade (it was rare that I didn't).
primocordara
31-05-2006, 04:50
I can share with you my experience at settlement regularization here...
First important thing, but that we architects tend to overlook, is that the dwelling is not the first priority to deal with:
Issue N1: Securing Land tenure. the ilegal aspect makes setlers uneasy of their legal situation, therefore lack of "investment" in their dwelling.
Consolidating their situation in exchange for certain compromise in respect for public space and improvement gives great dividends.
Issue N2: access to Water and sewage. Even small investments in this aspect generates a great revenue in terms of living standards, and can be more easily done by local authorities.
Issue N3: access to cheap credit for materials for self construction. These dwelers put a lot of work in their home, but pay very high interests when they need to borrow for materials, so providing credit in good rates has a positive impact.
Also:
Local economic development programs should be part if the settlement is to succeed in the long term.
Integration with the urban fabric. This objective is to reduce the marginal perception, improve the access to services and security.
For example, in a setlement we opened some streets to trafic, were difficult access made an excelent hiding place for gangs who terrified the rest of the settlement. After the streets were opened they moved away.
?eter , I am following this thread with great interest and it is really commendable . A lot of solutions have popped up and all are sound but for something to work it has to be appropriate to the region . Here is how appropriate technology has been defined at the Auroville site (http://www.auroville.org/thecity/architecture/appr_technology/appr_building_technology.htm)
Appropriate building technology
The term 'appropriate building technology' refers to building processes and tools that are appropriate to the climate, socio-economic conditions and natural resources of an area, and which contribute to sustainable development. In the Auroville context we have two examples of appropriate building technology, earth construction and ferrocement.
So the solution has to be local / regional . It should be material that is redily available , cheap , durable . the building technology should be such that people can very quickly learn , preferably something that is akin to the local methods of construction .
Housebuilding in many communities has been a social event , people would get together and help each other build . One needs to revive this aspect of community involvement . Your idea of establishing some sort of a school to teach and learn is a step in the right direction .
A rammed earth roof in Auroville
imasayer
31-05-2006, 17:54
1. this being an acedemic project and having trouble finding a "theory"... well sometimes there just isn't a "theory" to hold onto, from an acedemic standpoint, and you have to draw inspiration from other things... I think the basic needs of living and shelter here are essential...
You could even pull out some type of theoretical basis from the ideas on phenomenology if you really felt like you needed a "thoery" to base your work in.
2. If you don't use the standard "theory" for your work, from the acedemic standpoint, you have the functionality of what these dwellings need to achieve and the relationships of community to draw from. Plus that grand old idea of survival :)
3. and who cares about kissing your profs. asses? are you kidding me? if your work stands on its own and is good solid work that has meaning and is thoughtful then you should do fine. Your in it for yourself and that is all you have to satisfy while being in school... let your talents do the talking, not the professors...
I totally agree with Wizum. Don't interject some theory here where there isn't any. I mean, if your heart isn't with the theory don't bother to add something you don't believe in. Theory is bullshit could be your theory. It is ideas that create architecture, not necessarily theory. Follow what you believe in, you will do it much better than faking it.
Alejandro Aravena Mori (http://www.pushpullbar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=552) recently did an interesting economic housing development in Iquique, Chile. He analyses the configuration of space in the intervention area and identifies what are the factors that turn it into a community. Then he lays out his plan of self-expandable houses arranged around some patios.
In the analysis he identified how dwellings are arranged around narrow passages or closed patios and how those were places where people related and got the community feeling.
It still has to stand the test of that community, but the start is pretty good and sensitive towards the current lifestyle of the people.
More info here (http://www.puc.cl/arquitectura/elementalchile/info_en/proyectos/taller_chile.htm) (click on Iquique)
primocordara
31-05-2006, 20:27
Good info caca! You can download a pdf in english of that project, very interesting.
I totally agree with Wizum. Don't interject some theory here where there isn't any. ... Theory is bullshit could be your theory. It is ideas that create architecture, not necessarily theory.
I agree completely, maybe I gave the wrong impression.
One part of it is that I'm paying attention to the lecturers because I am hearing similar things from VERY different lecturers.
But the other thing is that a theory gives me a kind of armature to structure my design intervention around. Look, 5000 people die a week from AIDS in Sub Saharan Africa- this is a big problem I am working with. This is a life's work, if I try to do it all in one year I'm going to get nowhere. So I need some kind of lens that will let me focus on one particular aspect FOR NOW so that I can get something done, because trying to do everything won't get me there. I think an appropriate question to ask is 'what is the limit of formal architectural knowledge?' and looking at how that applies in the context I am working in.
naught101
01-06-2006, 03:35
perhaps what you really should be looking for is not so much a theory, but a process of slum development?
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