by Tarien Roux | Aug 9, 2017 | Anita Venter, Q&A, Sustainable human settlements
In honour of women’s day we asked Anita Venter a few questions about her grassroots development initiative using sustainable building methods in Bloemfontein. We have great admiration for the shack replacement initiative and what she has done to empower her change agents to become more self-sufficient and build community in her local context.
by Peter McIntosh | Feb 23, 2017 | Alternative building, Early Childhood Development centre, Guest post, Projects
In Delft, an impoverished township on the outskirts of the Cape Flats, local government is changing its approach to building early childhood development centres (ECDs) with a pioneering project showcasing a hybrid of natural building methods and up-cycled waste...
by Peter McIntosh | Sep 11, 2015 | Natural Building Materials & Tecnhiques, Passive Solar Design
Discover how to design an energy-efficient home that naturally stays warm in winter, cool in summer, and produces more energy than it consumes. Passive solar design is the starting point of sustainable building as it uses the energy provided by the sun and stored in...
by Peter McIntosh | Jun 16, 2015 | African Vernacular Architecture, Guest post, Indigenous Architectural Knowledge, Natural Building Materials & Techniques
The first thing that must be understood about African vernacular architecture is the great diversity that exists with both materials and techniques. People build according to climate but more importantly, with what materials are available locally.
by Franz Muhl | Apr 5, 2015 | Franz Muhl, Natural building, Owner-builder journey
Five years ago, Peter McIntosh gave me +- 900 sun-baked mud bricks, for an extension to my house. With little start up money, a trickle of income, some plans on google sketch up, a pickaxe and, most importantly, plenty of time, I finally started the process a year ago…
