SUSTAINABLE HOUSING IN AFRICA
Growing up in the United States public school system often gives one the impression that even modern-day Africans live exclusively in tiny mud huts with thatch roofs, no running water or electricity, and always in abject poverty. But Africa is an entire continent; the lands that encompass Africa are full of diverse, varied ways of life that can not and should not be categorized together in such a way.
A person relying upon these terrible myths of poverty would perhaps never consider the eco-friendly housing construction taking place in Africa. To many African architects and communities, sustainable housing is the forefront of new development in the industry. Take, for example, sandbag houses in South Africa. These houses are affordable, built in a simplistic way that allows future residents to assist in construction, and strong enough to withstand the elements. We may also reference the "Inno-native" house built by Ghanaian architect Joe Osae-Addo for himself and his family for only $50,000 USD. The house was constructed from local timber and adobe mud bricks, lacks air conditioning in favor of built-in ventilation, and relies on solar panels for its supplemental power, drawing its main power from the local electrical grid. In the age of climate change and the pressing need for sustainable construction and affordable housing solutions, I believe that ideas like these with locally sourced, sustainable, and environmentally-integrated designs implemented globally would be useful not only for the poor, but for everyone.
It is a well-known fact that population growth is a concerning factor in the issue of climate change, especially as it relates to access to, use, and disposal of resources. According to the World Green Building Council, the population of the African continent will reach almost 2.5 billion by 2050. Clearly, eco-friendly and sustainable solutions are as key to the successful development of African communities as they are for the rest of the world. Fortunately, not only does the planning and construction of new, green buildings provide affordable housing, it also creates job opportunities and allows for the use of local resources in efficient ways.
Solving climate change is not going to be an easy venture, and encouraging eco-friendly development among those living in poverty presents a whole new set of challenges which humanity must overcome. Perhaps a great example being set for the rest of us to follow on the African Continent. With respect to our shared environment, simultaneous sustainable and affordable construction solutions are essential for the growth of communities.
Written by Delaney Cornforth
Citation
Anderton, Francis. (2016 June 21). Innonative House / Joe Osae Addo. Archidatum. http://www.archidatum.com/projects/innonative-house-joe-osae-addo/
Czerwinska, D. (2020). How green building is facilitating rapid sustainable growth in Africa. World Green Building Council. https://www.worldgbc.org/news-media/how-green-building-facilitating-rapid-sustainable-growth-africa