Step inside a winning SIAH 4 Africa design 2021Sustainable Innovative Affordable House (SIAH) Initiative Champion, SIAH 4 Africa design completion, called for young professionals and students to develop an affordable home for the low-middle-income households that demonstrates sustainable living in action using innovative methods and materials.
The challenge was to create a 50m2 sustainable house for a total construction cost of only £15,000. The house is required to be designed to maximise passive design, optimum water and energy (50kWh/m2/year) efficiencies, produce on-site energy and food, and recycle on-site water. Participants were also encouraged to consider Net-Zero energy, carbon, water, food, waste, and other ecological impacts, as well as Quality of Life and the well-being of residents.
The final SIAH winning design 2021 came from the Livable House Team. The SIAH Livable version is 67.68% less embodied energy 48.38% less energy demand 72.28% less water usage. The design incorporates solar power generation, energy-efficient appliances, passive cooling, rainwater harvesting and an edible food garden.
Chisomo Phiri and Nikita Bosa describe the Livable home as “a building designed to accommodate the challenges of everyday affordability while considering the ecological concerns of the modern-day. The building design aims to introduce passive heating and cooling to reduce energy demand. A livable home is envisioned as an evolving living condition. The technologies used to offer an opportunity to grow with families and offer options that address Africa’s need for development and the need for sustainable growth.”
A full-sized prototype version of SIAH 4 Africa will be built soon in South Africa for actual testing and optimisations. You find the Design Summary and virtual tour here.
