Empower Shack
Urban ThinkTank
The Empower Shack Project is self-built settlement.
The Empower Shack is a dwelling designed by Urban Think Tank in collaboration with Ikhayalami. It is made out of materials such as wood and iron sheeting, and can be self-built. It has two storeys, but it could be expanded to three. The vertical building has a smaller footprint than typical informal houses.
The project aims to be scalable and applicable to answer South Africa’s housing shortage. It is on its pilot phase focusing within BT Section of Khayelitsha, Cape Town.
The project also focuses on developing the neighborhoods, and planning for infrastructure such as public spaces, roads and courtyards. It aims to be comprehensive, covering participatory spatial planning, ecological landscape management and integrated livelihoods programming.
*Please note that building designs are being included as “products” in the Habitat Sector of the Solutions Library to allow readers to learn from how projects were designed and constructed and how they are serving the occupants, whether effective or ineffective.
Urban Think Tank (UTT) in partnership with Ikhayalami
The approximated cost of a unit is 11,600 USD (11,557.20 USD) Converted on August 2018. The units are subsidized at 60% of the construction cost. Some residents have Land Release Credit, which means they will pay between 0 and 30% of the construction cost if they relinquish land for the project. The percentage depends on the household choice and the previous shack house.
Primary competitors in the area of the project include one storey buildings made of iron sheeting and wood frame.
People living in informal settlements or slums in South African cities
