Date: 2010

Project: Focusing on low-cost housing and the creation of a community between different social structures on the outskirts of Cape Town CBD.

Status: Concept design

Programs used: Revit, Sketchup, Photoshop

 

 

Abstract

 

Through various analytical studies within the Bo Kaap area, the identification of four different types of housing was distinguished. Each housing style had specific architectural characteristics. The aim of the project was to accommodate all the different housing styles and introduce them into a housing module thus bringing different social structures together.

The Bo-Kaap has an identity which is very community-based and most of the interaction occurring on the street.

 

This housing module introduces ideas of braiding many different income groups. The interaction between different income groups would happen in the public spaces and communal spaces such as entrance porches, back gardens, and washing areas. Provision for each lifestyle was also taken into account, for example, studies showed that with low-cost housing people would invest into a small house and expand as the family expanded, and this resulted in a housing type which has optional expansion areas. Gentrified or higher income houses as a result of the studies had no room for expansion but were larger than the others. The higher income units were lifted from the street for privacy at the same time this lifting would create spaces below usable for lower income houses, in essence, the higher income houses would help build spaces for the lower income by the structure used to support their houses. The purpose made expandable areas would also be infilled in different ways thus creating variation in the street facade.