13 Mar 2023
Authored by Alex Kivumbi, Head of Innovation & Resource Mobilization, Makindye Ssabagabo Municipal Council
The Makindye Ssabagabo Municipal Council is currently implementing the system demonstration phase of the Climate Smart City Challenge (CSCC) with technical support from UN-Habitat and Swedish partners to address a dual challenge of housing shortage and Greenhouse Gass emissions.
It is against this background that a fortnight ago, I, together with the Municipal Engineer visited Lubaga Hospital Training Institute Girls Dormitory, one of the projects being undertaken by Impact Building Solutions Foundation (ISBF) in Uganda. ISBF is a design and build developer and one of the few companies producing sustainable building materials and incorporating them among other non-conventional materials to construct structures with a small carbon footprint. Furthermore, IBSF is part of Green Community Cities, the winning team selected under the CSCC to work with the city to address the above challenges. Other firms are Urban Planning Constellation, CLC Global, Impluser AB, Marula Proteen, and Eco Brix.
We were taken around the site by Mr. Eckardt, Chairman of IBSF. He explained how the design process was led by Zero Carbon Designs and Transsolar, focusing on climate responsive design, climate friendly construction technologies and the potential for incremental construction. The site plan has been designed to accommodate 500 nursing students including a kitchen and dining area. Phase 1 is laid out for 104 students and is now under construction.
The typical reinforced concrete superstructure has been replaced by a galvanized light gauge steel frame (LGSF). Instead of brick and mortar infills, the LGSF frame is clad with pre-fabricated Zero Carbon Panels on the inside and fiber cement board on the outside. The floor slab is a light weight solution consisting of an engineered metal sheet with 70mm concrete cover. The building sits on a concrete foundation with a façade made from locally sourced, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified timber, which provides shading for the walkways while allowing air circulation.
We realized that the structure can easily be set up in a short time due to the use of a pre-fabricated modular construction method, which saves on labour costs. It is much lighter than conventional concrete/brick structures and therefore allows for cost savings in the foundation. More importantly, the structure allows for incremental construction since the roof can easily be removed, and more floors can be added.
For such alternative building technologies to be accepted, we need to re-double our efforts in changing the mindset of the communities that are used to building with bricks, cement, sand and steel reinforcements, to embrace such new technologies through deepening sensitization. Above all, there is also a need to bring such technologies closer to the communities in the city through prototypes set up under the Climate Smart City Challenge system demonstration.
In June this year, we look forward to hosting the Green Community Cities team, UN-Habitat and other partners in Makindye Ssabagabo Uganda to collaboratively deepen our understanding of the context, engage with a diverse range of stakeholders, and further strengthen our concept for how to tackle the dual challenge of GHG emissions and affordable housing in Makindye Ssabagabo.
If you would like to know more or get involved please reach out to Alex Kivumbi at akivumb@gmail.com
