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Empower Shack · Cape Town, South Africa

Reimagining informal settlements with green solutions

 
 

Located in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, The Empower Shack housing project is a pioneering initiative tackling uncontrolled urban sprawl in South African townships. Unlike conventional housing programmes, which too often lack identity, the so-called re-blocking project transforms existing informal shacks into dignified two-storey housing units. Embracing the incremental nature of local urban development, this model is tailored to foster community pride and resilience.

 
Location
Cape Town, South Africa
 
Status
Constructed
 
Year
2021 - 2024
 
Project area
0,5 ha
 
Client
Foundation RVM Geneva
 
Collaboration
UTT, Riverside consultant, Namene Solar, Redirect Energy,
 
Creator of meaningful places

Holistic approach

With this project we seek to elevate the living conditions of local residents through a holistic approach that includes neighbourhood development, job opportunities and the provision of vital infrastructure, such as public spaces, services, and play facilities.

Tailoring the task to local demands

At the heart of this project is a participatory spatial planning process involving future residents and community leaders. This close collaboration has been crucial to truly understanding the challenges and providing a suitable design, tailored to local needs.

Creator of meaningful places
 

Quality public space and sense of belonging

As part of a multidisciplinary team, we have focused on designing public spaces that can effectively mitigate climate hazards and heatwaves by maximising green areas.

“By bringing quality to public spaces we have made a strategic step towards building a sense of belonging and well-being within a population segment vulnerable to poverty and crime.”

Giuliana Sibilia

 

A community-led innovative rooftop aquaponics farm

As part of a new community centre, we designed a rooftop greenhouse with an aquaponics urban farm. It serves a dual purpose as a communal catalyst, and plans are in place for skills transfer programmes to enable local residents to actively manage the farm.

Solar panels and rainwater systems enhance sustainability, ensuring that the farm remains a self-sufficient resource for local residents with water back-up when necessary.

 

"The ultimate aspiration is for this project to serve as a scalable and adaptable solution to South Africa’s housing scarcity."

 
 

Martin Knuijt

Partner

 

Scaling-up the solution for a greater impact

The ultimate aspiration is for this project to serve as a scalable and adaptable solution to South Africa’s housing scarcity. The current phase is envisioned as a pilot project that can pave the way for similar initiatives, thereby having a large-scale impact on the future of townships. Discussions are currently underway with the Western Cape Government to adopt this approach as an alternative to the government’s existing solutions to the housing crisis.

Oudegracht 23
3511AB Utrecht
The Netherlands
+31 (0)30 27 34 249
KVK 30146760
mail@okra.nl

 

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