A Cape Town-based non-profit organisation is gearing up to start work on the second phase of a radical design model that aims to address the national housing crisis.
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Urban Think Tank Empower’s (UTTE) Empower Initiative has already provided more than 350 Khayelitsha residents with 72 homes that were designed with their needs, aspirations and cultural values in mind.
Delana Finlayson, managing director at UTTE, says the RDP housing programme does not always meet the needs of the people living in the units.
‘We’re confident that scaling up and replicating our housing model can help to deliver the promise of “housing security and comfort” for all South Africans, as enshrined in the 1955 Freedom Charter.’
The organisation launched the first phase of the Empower Initiative in 2013. Some of the innovations include building upwards instead of outwards to make the best use of scarce available land, and residents can also participate in the design process, resulting in safe and decent housing for families, Bizcommunity reports.
Now, drawing on lessons learnt during the first phase, UTTE plans to build another 70 Empower homes along public spaces and shared assets such as a community hall, an urban farm and a solar installation.
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According to Bizcommunity, UTTE aims to expand the project to nine more sites in Khayelitsha.
Alderman Eddie Andrews, deputy mayor of Cape Town and Mayco member for human settlements, says the City is very supportive of UTTE’s work. ‘The team has shown us how much we can achieve through visionary collaborations that combine proven technical know-how with bold innovation to address the very real challenges facing people living in our informal settlements.’
‘Further to this, their innovations support our goals to reduce our carbon footprint by using nature-based solutions to our challenges. Cape Town is a growing city, facing the many pressures of emigration and urbanisation. We have to be mindful not to remain reactive in our efforts, and it is equally important to look through a proactive lens to ensure we sustainably respond to these pressures.’
‘The Empower Upgrade Model also places the wellbeing and aspirations of the community at the forefront of the housing process by restoring dignity, security and hope to community members. This model is a sustainable response to a growing city.’
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Picture: Urban ThinkTank Empower / Facebook