Real Estate Investor Magazine South Africa Real Estate Investor Magazine - August 2017 | Page 29

AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Sustainable Solutions
Containers prove their worth
A
quick look around the Mother City and one
begins to understand the problem with housing
in South Africa ‒ and the environment to
boot. Overpriced and undersized apartments, hour‒
long commutes, and wasted land combine to create a
perfect storm for a housing crisis. Add to this an ever‒
growing tourism market, and it’s no wonder many are
left scratching their heads for a solution.
Cape Town isn’t alone in this struggle. A global
housing crisis has emerged, with a dramatic increase
of those looking to move to urban areas. This has led
to some interesting innovations ‒ and a shift in how
accommodation is approached. One such example,
popular in Europe, is the conversion of shipping
containers into houses. An ideal low‒cost housing
solution, recent years have seen it become a bit of a
trend amongst the wealthy.
Customisation is key
The possibilities are endless, according to local
container‒conversion
specialists
Berman‒Kalil
Housing Concepts. As Alicia Kalil explains, they’ve
provided converted containers to several high‒earning
clients to be used for everything from AirBnB solutions,
guest accommodation, to primary family homes.
With several customisation options, including
stacking more than one container to create a larger
dwelling, adding various levels of luxurious finishes,
and the possibility of taking your conversion completely
off the grid, it’s not difficult to see why this is becoming
so popular. This last point is particularly relevant in
South Africa, where national power supply and natural
resources aren’t always as reliable as we’d like it to be.
Practical considerations
In most cases, you’ll have to get planning permission
from your local municipality prior to placing your
www.reimag.co.za
converted container on your property. Kalil reassures
us that many municipalities are already on board,
having realised that this solution offers a realistic
alternative to traditional homes.
The convenience of having a fully‒completed home,
kitted out with your personalised specifications, is
what will draw many customers. It’s also good to
know the full cost of the home up‒front, removing the
inevitable frustration that accompanies conventional
building projects.
For those concerned about living in a metal box in
famous South African summers: fear not. Container
conversions have excellent insulation, meaning you
probably wont event realise that you’re not living in
a brick house.
The eco-element
Merely by converting a container, rather than letting
it rust into oblivion, you’re recycling 3000kg of steel.
It doesn’t end there, however. Kalil explains that any
materials cut out to create windows or doors are used
in other places in a conversion. Examples include steel‒
framed decks, wall panels, and even extended roofs.
Steel also offers the advantage of being fire‒resistant,
with all materials used having received a good fire rating.
We’re only just scratching the surface of
opportunities for container‒homes in South Africa.
With a critical shortage of affordable housing, there is
a clear opportunity to create a sustainable, affordable,
and attractive solution. Kalil claims that, after three
years in the market, they’re experiencing increased
interest from low‒income households.
SOURCES
Berman-Kalil Housing Concepts, Home Times,
Huffington Post.
AUGUST 2017 SA Real Estate Investor
27