tarlton POD

Johannesburg, South Africa

Add To Collection

Other Projects by Architecture for a Change (A4AC Architects)

Add To Collection

tarlton POD

Johannesburg, South Africa

Firm

Architecture for a Change (A4AC Architects)

Type

Residential › Apartment

STATUS

Built

YEAR

2013

We worked together with an organization that mostly work in informal settlements. Their aim is not to create buildings but to form relationships and uplift communities through sport (mostly football) and education. In order to create a sustainable building in informal settlements such as Tartlton a relationship between the community and sponsors/architects/organizations are vital mostly for acceptance of the building). This is where our relationship with Youth Zones (organization) comes into play where they initiate the relationship between architects and community. This is only an initial stage as we start to form our own relationship with the community. The organization choose a respected member from the community to benefit from the intervention. In this case a lady from the community was selected. The ground floor of the unit is used as a communal space for the football club. The space is both used as a gathering spot and internet cafe. Her bedroom is on the 1st floor. The project was funded by the department of education (Gauteng region).

Community participation is an important factor for us to create ownership of the building. Parts of the structure was prefabricated by us. The lightweight steel panels where then transported to site. On site concrete pads where cast which the structure was bolted to. All the site work is done along with community members to ensure participation and hands-on education of construction and design. The wall panels consist of a 4 layer composite. The exterior layer is galvanized sheeting to suite its context), a thermal membrane layer, thermal wool layer (inside the 90mm cavity) and an internal plywood layer. The U value of this wall is better than a masonry wall.

Other shacks in the informal settlement is constructed from a single layer corrugated iron. General problems with these structures are insulation, poor waterproofing and unstable structure. There is also no electrical or fresh water connections that service the shacks in the community. Therefore we installed a solar panel and battery system. A water tank is also connected to the roof of the unit. The unit covers a small area. This was both due to budget constraints and density. Total floor space is 11.5 sqm.

The 2nd skin of the building consist of an frame and iron mesh. Ivy is allowed to grow on the structure. Eventually the structure will be overgrown by greenery. This will insulate the structure further, allow for evaporative cooling and minimize heat gain on the building skin.