Using sustainable and local materials, students worked with the local community to build a house for volunteer workers during their stay at Grabouw. "The local climate and environmental protection were especially important to us," state the members of Ukuqala2, "and we decided to use traditional and natural local materials such as clay, straw and wood, in combination with recycled materials."
The house for Village of Hope draws from local construction, where two-story houses form a series of public spaces between them. Communally used spaces are located in the ground floor, while private rooms are located in the first floor, accessible by an outer staircase. Connecting both rooms, a large, light-filled hallway doubles as a lounge space.
Because of high temperatures in the area, the house features a double roof which allows air to circulate in between two layers. The lower layer is composed of recycled plastic bottles and breathable foil, while the upper layer is sloped, offering protection from the rain during the monsoon months. The outer clay walls are 30 cm thick, contributing to a comfortable temperature inside the house.
Team: University of Stuttgart architecture students, Thembalitsha, local community members
Location: Grabouw, Cape Town, South Africa
Completion: 2012
