OVERALL TRANSFORMATION: WINNER
Joe Slovo Community Project, Cape Town
There is a global acceptance of the urgency of
sustainable development. However, the green trend
seems to further marginalise the poorer communities
that cannot afford mainstream green technology. There
is a need to connect these communities to alternative
green design so they can harness its socioeconomic and
environmental benefits.
Joe Slovo Community Project employs a multi-
disciplinary approach to development that combines
innovative design thinking with socioeconomic strategies
to encourage alternative solutions that create livelihoods
while promoting community acceptance and ownership.
Here a community centre addresses social gaps in
the township (the multipurpose town hall is also used as
a creche and health centre), and is connected to green
businesses inspired by the green technology from the
centre, further stimulating the township economy through
the development of SME’s that encourage recycling. The
project model uses 80% recyled material in construction.
Understanding land tenure and perception of value in the
township is critical to successfully promote green design
and to gain acceptance and local ownership of alternative
green design strategies.
The community project illustrates ways of tapping into
the idle potential in townships by presenting green skills
sets that are easily accessible to these communities.
These then have great potential to help bridge social
inequality in South Africa by providing incomes through
self-employment.
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Developer: Funders guided by Indalo World
Owner: Joe Slovo Community
Architect:
Kevin Kimwelle associated by schools of design
CPUT, Ecole Central de Nantes(FR),
Hochschule Wismar(GER)
Architect of Record: Harlech-Jones Architects
Quantity Surveyor: LDM Quantity Surveyors
Project Manager: Indalo World
Structural Engineer: ENSPEC Structural Engineers
Electrical & Mechanical Engineer:
Carifro Electrical and Mechanical Consultants
Green Consultants:
CPUT; NMU; Engineers without Borders
Main Contractors:
Indalo World; Makapela Contractors
SAPOA Awards