Africa Innovates With Housing Project (Angola

The centralite housing project allowed thousands of Angolans to realise the dream of homeownership, having increased the supply of state homes, hence forcing a drop in prices. Moreover, given the various options that the market has to offer.

On the one hand, centralities are thought out works that would have acceptable basic sanitation, organised streets and good quality of administrative services. On the other hand, public tranquillity is one of the advantages most pointed out by residents living in the centralities.

Be that as it may, urbanisation is highly influenced and actively engaged by the state. Henceforth, several Centralities are being built by the country and thus far have implemented projects in the provinces of Luanda, Bengo, Cabinda, Lunda Norte, Huíla, Namibe and Benguela, with projections slated for 13 provinces overall.

With the language of construction in the reigns, Imogestin a real estate company, was founded in December 1997. It started its activities on June 15, 1998 with the appointment of its Board of Directors and other social bodies. Imogestin is a company dedicated to the business of promotion, mediation and management of real estate developments, committed to the sustainability of projects.

China another development giant has been involved in Angola’s post-war reconstruction process, covering projects like urbanisation and social housing. The Flagship 3.5 billion US dollar Kilamba New City project by the Chinese civil engineering ‘China International Trust and Investment Corporation’ or CITIC Construction, turned a backward rural area into a modern satellite town.

Furthermore, the Kilamba New City is one of Luanda’s six urban districts and the first centrality to be built. The new city is one of the world’s largest residential sectors. It provides homes for more than 100 000 locals in an area that was sheer wilderness before this massive social housing project started. Construction work began in 2008, where the builders found it difficult to get materials of satisfactory quality at local markets. Two million tonnes of materials were shipped directly from China causing CITIC Construction four years to complete the whole project.

Today, Kilamba is home to more than 70,000 Angolans, and according to the official estimates, the population of the complex is bound to surpass 200,000 in the incoming months. They have begun phase two of the project which involves a lot more development and hope to accommodate 500,000 upon completion.

Other projects that were and still are being implemented are listed below:

Centrality of Zango 5 - Luanda Capari Urbanisation - Bengo Centrality of Dundo - Lunda-Norte Centrality of Zango 0 - Luanda Amélia Beach Development - Namibe Centrality of Lobito - Benguela Baia Farta urbanisation - Benguela 5 de Abril Urbanisation - Namibe Urbanisation of KM 44 - Luanda Centrality of Quilemba - Huila Centrality of Caala - Huambo

The innovation tale is all too familiar as other African countries engage in various small to mega projects adding to the trail of urbanisation. Angola is a prime example of the magnitude to which our beloved continent has come in construction since the onset of independence in respective countries.