Casas Melhoradas: Affordable Housing in Maputo, Mozambique

CASAS MELHORADAS Affordable housing in Maputo, Mozambique

Johan Mottelson & Jørgen Eskemose

CASAS MELHORADAS Affordable housing in Maputo, Mozambique Johan Mottelson & Jørgen Eskemose Institute of Architecture, Urbanism & Landscape KADK - The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts Schools of Architecture, Design and Conservation Copenhagen, Denmark All works by Johan Mottelson and Jørgen Eskemose, unless noted 2018 Printed in Denmark by Toptryk Contact: Johan Mottelson +45 30 13 10 01 jmot@kadk.dk www.casasmelhoradas.com Project partners: Architects without borders - Denmark Arquitectura Sem Fronteiras / Moçambique Estamos - Organização Comunitária

Donors: Tækker Group, Statens Kunstfond, Danmarks Nationalbanks Jubilæumsfond, Martha og Paul Kerrn-Jespersen Fonden, Dreyers Fond, and Bergiafonden.

A special thanks to Raul Carlos Machaeie, Salomão Gabriel Machava, Katrine Lotz, Sara Marquez, Casa Minha, Mario Machaeie, Nelson Machaeie, Joaquim Cuna, André Nungo Cuna (RIP), Manel Machava, Pilote Mavale, Paul Jenkins, Tia Masupa, Dersio Cirillo, Lucas Lavo, Miguel Tanga, Remígio Chilaule, Krystel Holst, Amalie Holm, Melanie C. MacDonald, and Universidade Eduardo Mondlane - Faculdade de Arquitectura e Planeamento Físico (UEM-FAPF).

All quotes are by the Mozambican poet Jose Craveirinha (1922-2003), resident of the informal settlement Mafalala.

In ancient times (before the time of Jesus) “ men erected temples and stadiums and died in the arena like dogs.

Now . . . they’re making Cadillacs as well. ” - Jose Craveirinha

INTRODUCTION Casas Melhoradas is an applied research project on housing

informal settlements. Consequently, new forms of social

for low-income groups in the informal settlements of

problems often arise when such projects are implemented.

Maputo, Mozambique with a three-fold focus:

Accordingly, innovation within housing and urban

1) Improve the quality and reduce the cost of housing

development strategies of informal settlements is pivotal for

through development of alternative construction methods.

a sustainable future of African cities. This project seeks to

2) Initiate sustainable urban development by curtailing

contribute to the discussions about the future development

urban sprawl and utilizing space and infrastructure more

of African cities by demonstrating alternative construction

economically through development of compact housing

methods and new compact housing typologies to enhance

typologies.

the resilience of low-income urban areas.

3) Scale up the impact of the project by engaging in partnerships with civil society, private companies, and public

The project was exhibited and published on numerous

institutions.

notable platforms, including Venice Biennale of Architecture (2016), Louisiana Museum of Modern Art (2015), XX

This publication contains background material on the

Architecture and Urbanism Biennale (2017), CCBM - Centro

project, information about the first four constructed housing

Cultural Brasil Moçambique (2017), Archdaily (2015, 2016,

projects, as well as an outline of ongoing and future project

2018), and Arkitekten (2016, 2017).

activities.

Casas Melhoradas is carried out by the Institute of Cities across the African continent are experiencing rapid

Architecture, Urbanism & Landscape at KADK - The Royal

urban transformations in order to accommodate the high

Danish Academy of Fine Arts Schools of Architecture,

urban population growth. Informal urban development

Design and Conservation, and is linked to the research of

is the predominant contemporary urban type in Sub-

the institution on urban development in the Global South.

Saharan Africa and the number of residents in informal

The project collaborates with the NGOs Architects without

settlements is expected to double over the next 15-20

Borders – Denmark, Estamos - Organização Comunitária, and

years. The growth of African cities causes comprehensive

Arquitectura Sem Fronteiras / Moçambique.

challenges for sustainable development, including issues such as inadequate access to safe water, unstable food

Casas Melhoradas has received economic contributions from

supply, decreasing mobility, growing infrastructure deficit,

Tækker Group, Dreyers Fond, Statens Kunstfond, Danmarks

loss of arable land, and lack of basic services. There are

Nationalbanks Jubilæumsfond, Martha og Paul Kerrn-

few examples of successful development of informal

Jespersen Fonden, and Bergiafonden. Without their support

urban areas as most so-called ‘slum upgrade’ projects in

the project would not have been possible.

Africa fail to acknowledge the culture and way of life in

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BAC KG RO U N D While Africa is the least urbanized continent, it has some of

majority of informal areas are occupied by poor residents

the highest population growth rates, rates of urbanization

and will often have additional forms of deprivation (related

and economic growth rates in the world. Accordingly, African

to water, sanitation, overcrowding or durable housing).

cities are growing at unprecedented rates, sizes and densities

The urban areas in which Casas Melhoradas operate, all

in order to accommodate the rapidly increasing populations.

fall under the UN definition of slums, not only due to the

Approximately 40% of the African population reside in

insecure tenure status of the areas. However, because of the

cities. However, according to demographic projections the

negative associations of the term ‘slums’, the term ‘informal

urban population will outnumber the rural population in

settlements’ is used throughout this publication.

Africa approximately by 2030 due to migration from rural to urban areas. The extensive urbanization of Africa is partly

Informal settlements typically develop without effective

caused by ‘pull-factors’, such as new job opportunities in

urban planning, enforcement of building code, and

cities within the service and industrial sectors, as well as

appropriate infrastructure provision. Consequently, they

better access to education and health services. Meanwhile,

develop undesirable living conditions, lack of public space,

‘push factors’, such as decreasing job opportunities in rural

and limited access to public services. Possible consequences

areas, caused by opening of markets and technological

of this type of unregulated urban development include

advancement in agriculture, have further increased the

unhealthy homes, risk of spread of diseases and fire,

migration to the cities. Urbanization has been associated

and exposure to hazards such as collapsing buildings.

with important economic and social transformations, which

On this background, public authorities in various African

have brought longer life expectancy, higher levels of literacy

countries have implemented ‘slum-upgrade’ interventions

and greater access to social services, education and political

to counter the negative consequences of unregulated

participation. Nevertheless, the rapidly growing African

urban development. However, these interventions often

cities are characterized by lack of planning, urban sprawl,

fail to acknowledge the contextual socio-cultural fabric.

inadequate infrastructure provision and underutilization of

Consequently, these well-intended interventions typically

scarce resources, particularly land, leading to comprehensive

result in social problems such as crime, segregation, and

challenges for sustainable development.

alienation.

According to the UN, a slum household is characterized by

Concurrent to the urban densification taking place in

one or more of five factors: insecure tenure, inadequate

almost all informal settlements, African cities are expanding

access to safe water, inadequate access to sanitation,

horizontally. Most studies suggest that urban expansion

overcrowding, and inadequate quality of housing. According

is the primary quantitative vehicle for accommodating

to UN-Habitat, 60-70% of the urban population in Africa

the growing urban populations. This development leads

live in slums. The term was re-introduced by the UN in

to growing infrastructure deficit as the new urban areas

2003 to promote government intervention with the aim

typically develop without planning or infrastructure

of improving the living conditions in such areas. However,

provision. It leads to decreased mobility and access to

contrary to the intention the definition was often used to

public services, as the new areas are far from the city

relocate population, serving elite economic and political

centers. Furthermore, this development can decrease food

interests. The terms ‘informal settlements’ and ‘slums’ are

production as arable land is transformed into peripheral

often used interchangeably, although the definitions of the

urban areas. Accordingly, the urban expansion challenges

two terms differ. While the term ‘slum’ both covers legal and

sustainable development and new strategies to counter

qualitative assessments, the term ‘informal settlement’ is a

these tendencies must be developed in order to enhance the

legal term relating to lack of formal landownership. The vast

resilience of African cities.

6

Our city “ bizarre in this bilharzia of long nights

tamed like pet cats that purr at their owners’ feet and over the half-opened stone thighs on the sheet of the city dwellers like a woman gratified for the second time.

- Jose Craveirinha

”

MAPUTO Mozambique was colonized by Portugal until 1975.

There are four urban planning categories in the informal

Today, it is one of the poorest countries in the world.

settlements of Maputo, reflecting both the actual urban

The capital, Maputo, is characterized by social inequality

development processes and the nature of the state’s role

and informal urbanization without effective planning,

of planning: a) ‘unplanned’ areas; b) ‘restructured’ areas

without enforcement of regulation, without appropriate

(previously unplanned areas which have been surveyed and

infrastructure provision, and urban sprawl.

in some cases subject to state intervention); c) ‘officially planned’ areas; d) ‘unofficially planned’ areas (areas planned

The formal city center was planned and developed by the

by locally commissioned professionals, but that have not

Portuguese colonial rule until independence and has wide

been approved by the local government). These different

streets structured in a grid layout, as well as relatively well-

planning categories are reflected in the urban structure

functioning infrastructure. The city center is surrounded by a

across the city.

20-25 km belt of informal settlements characterized by lack of planning and basic infrastructure. The divide between the

The city has a high population growth rate (approximately

formal and the informal city is manifested in vast differences

5% annually) and expands horizontally at high pace, covering

in urban structures, as well as wider cultural and societal

vast new areas with low urban density developments lacking

differences, such as language, economy, housing types,

appropriate infrastructure provision, such as paved streets,

and legality of landownership. Approximately 80% of the

storm water management systems, sewage, electricity,

population of Maputo live in the informal settlements. Due

and water. Much of the recently developed settlements

to the political instability and the scarcity of resources after

are now far from the job opportunities in the center of the

independence, the city developed with limited planning and

city, causing an increasing pressure to find housing near

affordable housing options. The majority of the population

the center. However, this is only possible by increasing the

were financially excluded from the formal land- and housing-

urban density within the already built up urban fabric. The

market, and had no choice but to settle on land without

continuing urban sprawl with low urban densities in the

formal legal permits. This development continues to this

periphery of the city decreases the mobility and increases

day resulting in vast unplanned urban areas with limited

the need for investments in infrastructure. Strategies for

infrastructure provision. The informal settlements are locally

countering the extensive urban sprawl are thus essential

known as ‘bairros’ or ‘suburbia’ and the vast majority of

for initiating a more sustainable urban development. There

these are characterized by UN defined slum-characteristics,

is limited experience with high densities in the informal

such as lack of infrastructure, insecure tenure and housing of

settlements, as multi story construction is expensive.

poor quality. The houses are almost exclusively single-story

However, increasing demand for centrally located space

detached typologies and contrary to commonly held belief

cause increasing land prices, providing the economic

in the local architecture and planning discourse, the urban

framework for urban densification through multi-story

densities are relatively low.

construction in the informal settlements.

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Jafar

Unplanned

Guava

Planned unofficially Unplanned

Albasine

Unplanned

Magoanine B

Planned officially Planned unofficially Unplanned

Hulene B

Unplanned

Hulene A

Planned unofficially Unplanned

Mavalane B Unplanned

Mahotas

Planned officially Planned unofficially Unplanned

3 de Fevereiro Planned officially

Laulane

Planned officially

Ferrovário

Planned officially Planned unofficially

Polana Caniço B Planned officially Unplanned

Polana Caniço A Planned officially Unplanned

MAP OF MAPUTO Railroad Main road Coast

Maxaquene C and D Planned unofficially Unplanned

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HOUSING IN THE INFORMAL SET TLEMENTS OF MAPUTO A typical house in the informal settlements of Maputo is

The small entrepreneurs in the building sector, often only

single story, 20-60 m2, and has two to four rooms. Previously

one ‘master’ and two laborers, are crucial actors in the

‘casa de caniço’ (reed house) and the ‘casa de madeira e

construction of houses in the informal settlements as most

zinco’ (timber and corrugated iron sheet house) housing

homes are built without any technical assistance from

types were frequent, but today the ‘casa de blocos’ (concrete

architects, engineers, or other formally trained construction

block house) is the most common housing type. A ‘casa de

personnel. House building within the low-income segments

blocos’ features an on-site cast reinforced concrete structure,

is guided by these builders’ prior experience and the wishes

with hollow concrete block walls and corrugated iron sheet

expressed by the plot holder.

roofs. Houses are usually ongoing construction processes, expanding one room at a time, as a complete house requires

Portuguese villas with a veranda were built in many parts of

too big an investment for the individual family. The step-

Maputo by the settlers before independence. This housing

by-step building process has directly influenced the overall

model still influences the emerging popular building style

housing design, as most of these new single rooms have an

as these are considered ‘proper houses’ by many residents

independent roof slope. A typical housing unit, with four

of informal settlements. Hiding the metal roof sheets

rooms, is known as the ‘casa ventoinha’ (fan house) typology,

behind a deliberately designed concrete gutter is a common

as it resembles a fan when seen from above with four

architectural feature seen in many houses in the informal

individual roof surfaces, reflecting the interior division of the

settlements. While this is a technically unsound solution, it

rooms.

remains common as it hides the corrugated iron-sheet roof which is associated with poverty due to historical reasons.

Kitchens are usually outdoor sheds, as charcoal is commonly used for cooking. Toilets are usually exterior to the house,

Almost all homes are built without the involvement of

consisting of an open cesspit latrine covered with a circular

the formal construction sector and virtually the entire

concrete slab. The bathroom is usually without running

construction process takes place on individual plots, leading

water and people bathe using a pitcher and water from

to waste of resources as building materials often deteriorate

a plastic container. The plots are usually surrounded by a

during the lengthy process. Occasionally, families run out of

wall, a hedge or a fence. A typical plot is 300-500 m2. Plots

money during the construction process, leaving half-finished

are typically smaller and houses usually take up a higher

structures. There is a limited degree of industrialization

proportion of the plots closer to the center of the city.

in the construction sector and the quality of construction is often low. An optimization of the production processes

Most houses have some windows with glass panes. However,

in the construction sector by increasing the degree of

due to financial constrains many houses have blocked the

prefabrication of building components could reduce the

window openings temporarily with either corrugated iron

waste of resources, time, and cost of construction.

sheets or concrete blocks, leaving a small gap at the top for air circulation and daylight intake. However, buildings are typically prepared for windows planned to be mounted at a later stage when the household economy permits it.

12

Casa de caniço

Casa de madeira e zinco

Casa de blocos

13

URBAN DENSITY Urban density has numerous definitions and methods

built densities to capitalize on the fluctuating land prices by

of measurements, quantifying urban characteristics and

providing more space where the demand is high. Accordingly,

describing the relationship between a given area and

population density and building density are indicators

the number of certain entities in that area, e.g. people,

dependent on market parameters, mainly households’

dwellings, services, floor space, and street network size.

income, land supply elasticity, and transport speed and cost.

Knowledge of the size and spatial distribution of human

Accordingly, rents, land prices, built densities, and population

population in an urban area is essential for understanding

densities are usually highest in central areas and decrease

social, economic, and environmental issues. Urban density

corresponding to the distance from the center. Urban land

information is thus important for urban planning and land

prices are driven by transport costs paid by users (direct

management.

cost of transport like transit fare, tolls or gasoline cost, plus the opportunity cost of the time spent). The trade-off made

Very different urban forms (e.g. high-rise buildings with

by land users between the cost of transport in different

vacant land around and compact low-rise structures) can

locations and their desire to consume land results in land

have similar measured densities, as urban density measures

prices decreasing as transport costs increase. Land users

cannot be used to adequately describe urban form, albeit

react to differences in land prices by consuming less land

it contains valuable information about important spatial

where land is expensive and more where it is cheaper. Land

properties. While urban density is a quantitative term, urban

users are able to reduce their land consumption by building

form is a qualitative term, describing the physical character

taller buildings where land is expensive close to the city

of the built environment. Urban density and urban form

center. Land users occupy less ground and construct single-

condition the performance of an urban fabric, e.g. daylight

story buildings where land is cheap in the periphery. As a

access, parking, traffic, privacy, energy consumption, and

result, there is a direct correlation between built density and

building types. Urban regulation usually includes multiple

distance to the urban center. The equilibrium of the trade-

indicators that relate to urban density and urban form, such

off depends on spatial, economic, regulatory, and cultural

as, building height, Floor Area Ratio (FAR), and building

factors. Accordingly, there are multiple factors influencing

coverage (GSI). FAR is a commonly used urban density

densities other than transportation costs to the CBD. Spatial

measure in urban planning. It represents the total area of

factors include sub-centers with high concentrations of

indoor floor space divided by the given area. The ‘given area’

jobs and services, access to the natural reserves (e.g. the

is usually a plot but FAR is also used as a density measure

beach or forests), as well as natural disaster prone zones

for wider urban areas. Building coverage (GSI) is another

and polluted areas. Regulatory factors include instated

commonly used density measure, which is the total area of

minimum or maximum densities and building heights, as well

the building footprints divided by the given area. A Central

as requirements for intake of natural light in buildings, fuel

Business District (CBD) is the commercial and business center

taxation or subsidies, appropriation of land, and construction

of a city. The highest density of floor space, retail and jobs in

of affordable housing. Cultural factors include housing

any given city typifies CBDs. Often the population densities

preferences and perception of desirable urban conditions.

are higher in surrounding urban areas due to high land

Economic factors include household income, level of

prices in the CBD and consequent decreased accessibility for

inequality and the economic model governing the state.

residents.

Each of these factors will affect market value of land and consequently provide the incentive structure determining

The demand centrally located space is highest in the CBD as

the built densities in every city in the world. However, market

transport cost (including time spent on transport) is lower

forces arguably have an increased influence on densities in

closer to the high concentration of job and service functions

informal settlements where the state regulatory systems are

in the center of a city. There is thus an incentive to increase

enforced to a limited degree.

16

17

C O M PA C T C I T I E S A N D U R BA N S P R AW L Urban sprawl refers to the physical outward expansion of

due to deconcentrating urban functions, especially in African

cities characterized by low urban densities. Conversely,

metropolises where public transportation systems are often

compact city development refers to urban densification and

underfunded and streets congested. This has wider negative

development of high density urban areas. The opponents

implications in terms of access to jobs and services, and a

of urban sprawl argue that it results in increased car

negative impact on the economic development.

dependency, traffic congestion, higher levels of pollution, loss of farmland, duplicative infrastructure costs, limited

Most informal settlements in Africa are single-story, as multi-

employment accessibility, and concentrated poverty.

story construction is expensive and has limited historical

However, proponents argue that urban sprawl leads to

reference in the cultural context. Accordingly, informal

improved livability and satisfactory housing preferences,

settlements in Africa generally have relatively low FARs,

while higher densities can lead to traffic congestion, greater

but are often densely populated as people live in crowded

local air pollution, more crime, noise, and overcrowding.

conditions. Nevertheless, as a response to land scarcity and

The intricate relationship between sustainability and urban

consequently increasing land prices, land-use intensification

density is a subject of discussion among urban planners and

in more centrally located informal settlements, indicated by

academics worldwide. While the debate is divided, policy

increased building coverage, occurs simultaneously to the

has largely been supporting curtailment of urban sprawl

dominant urban expansion tendency. The trend towards

and enhancing compact city development through urban

increased land-use intensification has resulted in emerging

planning mechanisms. Nonetheless, despite the regulatory

multi-story informally constructed housing and consequently

efforts to counter urban sprawl, horizontal expansion and

high FARs in the most densely populated informal

low-density urban development resulting in increased

settlements, such as Kibera, Nairobi.

space consumption per capita is the primary vehicle for accomodating the urban population growth across the

In the early 19th century, high urban densities in

African continent, as economic growth and market forces

industrializing cities were associated with overcrowding,

arguably have a higher impact on the contemporary urban

spread of diseases, and cause of fires. Consequently, urban

density developments than urban regulation. In the African

regulation was developed to counter high densities. From the

context, the negative effects of urban sprawl are amplified,

second half of the 20th century to the present, low densities

due to lack of planning and infrastructure provision, while

have been widely recognized as causes of environmental,

strategies to prevent urban sprawl are less efficient due to

social, and economic challenges. While industrialization

lack of enforcement of urban regulation.

was a driver for congested urbanization, fossil fuel driven development has led to comprehensive urban expansion,

The cost of infrastructure is area-determined and is lower

resulting in overconsumption of resources. Accordingly,

per household in a dense city, as the distances between

policy has been developed to counter urban sprawl.

the buildings are shorter. Horizontal urban development

However, in many African cities there is neither an indsutrial

thus requires more infrastructural investments to serve

base nor the political structure to underpin comparable

the population, while decreasing the cost-effectiveness of

responses. There is thus a need to understand responses

investments in infrastructural developments. Furthermore,

to the urban expansion through innovation in compact

horizontal urban expansion has a negative impact on urban

city development strategies, urban design, and housing

mobility, as people need to spend more time on transport

typologies.

18

Vertical development

Horizontal development

Main roads

The urban density decreases with the distance to the center

Relationship between urban density and infrastructure needed per house hold

Job Market

Church Job Church

Market

Home

Home School

School Main road

Relationship between urban density and mobility

Main road

C U R R E N T D E N S I F I C AT I O N TRENDS IN MAPUTO The paper ‘Understanding urban density in Africa, where

The second part of the study examined the development of

unplanned and non-formal settlement dominates: a

built densities of three informal settlements 2007-2017. The

case study of peri-urban Maputo, Mozambique’ by Paul

three areas were selected based on their distance from the

Jenkins and Johan Mottelson (2018) examines the current

central urban area and the nature of their urban structure.

densification trends of informal settlements in Maputo. The

All three areas had unplanned urban structures and were

study compared population census data in 2007 and 2017

relatively homogenous local residential neighborhoods

and examined the development of built densities of three

without any major roads or large/medium scale industry,

informal settlements in the same period by analyzing satellite

businesses or public institutions, enabling data extraction

images. The study found increasing built densities in all three

relevant for comparison. The examined case study areas

cases and the population census data showed increased

were 300x300 meters and situated in the neighborhoods

horizontal urban expansion at macro level.

Maxaquene, Hulene and Guava, approximately one, five, and twenty km from District 1 (the central urban area). The data

While Greater Maputo experienced a 60% population

showed increasing building coverage in all three cases. The

growth over the 10-year period, the municipality of Maputo

study suggests that centrally located informal settlements,

only experienced 1% population growth, signifying that

with higher density at the outset, experience lower urban

the vast majority of the population growth of the city now

densification both numerically and proportionally compared

takes place beyond the municipal limits, in the neighboring

to less centrally located informal settlements. The data

municipality of Matola, as well as the districts of Marracuene

suggests that peripheral areas have high proportional

and Katembe. Accordingly, urban expansion is thus the

increase of building coverage, while the denser areas

fundamental mechanism accommodating the urban

experience lower proportional increase of building

population growth. The study found decreasing population

coverage. This is likely a result of peripheral areas having

densities in the three most central districts in the same

low urban densities at the outset, as well as peripheral areas

period. This is likely caused by economic development and

experiencing higher population growth. While the three

change in family structures. Improved household economies

cases are located with different distances to the city center,

may have reduced the fertility rate and the likelihood of

in fact the data showed relatively little variation in urban

extended families living together, causing a drop in average

densities. In international terms, these neighborhoods still

family size and population densities. Interestingly, the data

display relatively low urban density, as the most centrally

suggests that this is not only a tendency in the formal city

located study area had a FAR of 0.36. While all three cases

center (District 1) as it were 1997-2007, but also occurring in

showed increasing urban densities during the ten-year

the two most centrally located districts primarily consisting

period, the districts of the two most centrally located

of informal settlements (District 2 and 3). The municipality

case study areas experienced negative population growth.

had growing populations in the peripheral districts almost

Accordingly, urban densification is not only a result of

balancing the decreasing population in the most central

population growth but also correlated to growing space

districts. As the study examined a 10-year period with almost

consumption.

stable population, it’s plausible that Maputo municipality experienced increasing population growth in the first years of the period while there was still vacant space for construction and declining population later when most space was occupied, also pointing towards increasing urban expansion.

20

Guava

District of Marracuene

Matola Municipality

District 5 District 4 Hulene Airport District 3 Maxaquene

District 2 District 1 District of Katembe

District boundary Main road Railroad Case study areas 5 km

Maputo overview

Maxaquene case study area

Hulene case study area

Guava case study area

Legend Buildings 2017

Buildings 2007

Trees 2017

Trees 2007

Public / private boundary 2017

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Public / private boundary 2007

22

23

LAND RIGHTS Forced evictions are a threat to residents of informal

DUAT can be granted through ‘the rights to use and benefit

settlements worldwide as government agencies generally

from the land through ten years of good faith occupation’.

consider the occupants illegal squatters, due to their lack

However, it is only possible to obtain a DUAT, if the

of formal landownership. Evictions can be brutal and cause

following conditions are met: 1) An urban plan for the area

deaths and homelessness. Political turmoil is a frequent

(PPU – Plano Parcial de Urbanização) has been politically

consequence, as proper compensation for the loss of

approved. 2) A detail urban plan (PP - Plano Pormenor) has

property is rare. Forced evictions are often the result of

been politically approved. 3) The plot has access by car. 4)

government agencies or influential private institutions

Documentation of the residents and a survey of the house

seeking to develop the informal settlements for other

has been conducted. 5) The house and plot complies with

segments in society, using the illegal status of the informal

the regulatory requirements of the approved urban plans.

settlements as justification for seizing the land.

These formal requirements are occasionally disregarded, As the legality of informal neighborhoods is contested by

as there can be legitimate opposing arguments to the

public authorities, investments in infrastructure and public

regulation. The municipality, UN-Habitat, and small scale

services are typically less frequent compared to formal areas.

private entities planned some areas after independence.

Residents of informal settlements often encroach on street

These areas have well-organized urban structures, mostly

space with walls or buildings, as no formal plot boundaries

accessible by cars, while the residents lack formal land

exist in informal neighborhoods. This results in reduced

rights. In these cases, the municipality accepts formalization

public space and decreased access, with obvious negative

processes without an urban plan (PPU) and only require a

impacts on services, infrastructure provision, mobility,

detail plan (PP) for the area. Furthermore, in at least one

and social functions. Residents of informal neighborhoods

case (Chamanculo C) the municipality accepted initiating a

generally lack access to financial services, since informal

DUAT process without access to the plots by car, as it would

property cannot be used as mortgage. Informal

require demolishing a significant amount of houses in the

landownership thus constrains the residents of informal

area.

settlements from using their property as resources for investments in small scale businesses, making their property

Formal land rights (DUAT) are unattainable for the majority

‘dead capital’. Lack of land rights in informal settlements is a

due to the complexity of the land law, as well as lack of

root cause of these problems. Accordingly, formalization of

awareness about it, even for residents of land that fulfills

landownership can counter some of these issues and shift

the formal requirements. Furthermore, the vast majority of

the approach of the authorities to informal settlements,

informal settlements do not fulfill the formal requirements

since formalization comes with a set of legal property rights

as they lack approved urban plans and many are inaccessible

and is an important step towards societal inclusion and

to car. These areas thus require surveying, planning, and

citizenship.

interventions, which the residents are largely unable to organize due to limited of economic resources. The fragility

All Mozambican land was nationalized following

of the situation is faced by those residents who live in the

independence in 1975. Mozambican land law does not allow

ever-expanding growth zone around the formal urban core,

people to own or sell land. Instead, a person can be granted

where land value is rising and investors are seeking out land

the rights to use and benefit from the land, known as DUAT

for development. Without formal rights, these residents find

(Direito do Uso e Aproveitamento da Terra). These rights

themselves unable to capitalize on the land value gains, as

can be transferred to another person, when the house on

they are easily pushed out with minimal compensations by

a given plot of land is sold. The land law of 1997 recognizes

more privileged segments of society.

the rights of long term residents of informal settlements and

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‘SLUM UPGRADE’ PROJECTS I N K E N YA Kibera is the largest informal settlement in Africa with

evictions in the 1960s and 1970s, starvation in the early

unofficial estimates placing the population between 500,000

1980s, failing housing schemes in the early 1990s, and

and 1,000,000 inhabitants living on 256 hectares of land.

issues related to land tenure throughout. The pilot project

Kibera is situated 6 km southwest of the center of Nairobi,

included temporary resettlement of residents to a housing

the capital of Kenya, and it is one of the poorest urban

complex just outside of Kibera, while existing structures

areas in the country with high population densities and

were demolished, land was cleared, and new structures

widespread urban deficiencies caused by lack of planning

were built. This entailed construction of high-density tower

and infrastructure provision. Kibera is among the most

blocks used for resettling the residents and provision of new

dense, unsanitary and insecure informal settlements in the

infrastructure. Furthermore, formal land tenure systems

world. The lack of public funded affordable housing options,

were implemented as a part of the project. The new tower

and effective land policy has worsened these conditions.

blocks are up to eight stories, with gallery systems providing

Furthermore, there are problems related to mobility where

access to a large number of dwellings on each floor with few

residents often commute long distances on foot because

staircases. This is a low cost and high urban density housing

their homes are not easily accessible or served by affordable

typology. However, the architectural uniformity and the

transport services. The lack of access into the community

undefined nature of the public space is very different from

makes the provision of urban infrastructure as well as

the intimate street life typical of informal settlements.

services such as health as well as solid waste collection and management difficult. The precarious conditions

Residents who were relocated to the new tower blocks

characterizing Kibera are widely considered a result of the

began leaving their new homes and moving back into

following conditions characterizing the development of the

the informal parts of Kibera soon after they moved in. As

city: 1) Widespread poverty, 2) Rapid population growth, 3)

Nairobi is notorious for its high rents and limited housing

Limited affordable housing options, 4) Inequitable patterns of

stock, the middle-class began moving into the public

landownership, 5) Shortages of serviced land, 6) High urban

funded tower blocks. Many of these middle-class residents

land prices, 7) Insecure tenure for the urban poor, 8) Poor

acquired apartments in the new buildings through the

enforcement of building and zoning laws, 9) Limited housing

informal systems of bribery. Some residents who were

finance options.

given apartments through the pilot project saw a business opportunity and rented their flats out to middle class tenants

On the background of the Habitat II UN-Habitat conference

at high rates. Subsequently, these residents moved back

in 1996 and the Cities without Slums initiative in 1999,

to informal parts of Kibera with monthly income from the

the Government of Kenya and UN-Habitat created the

middle-class residents occupying the subsidized housing

Kenyan Slum Upgrading Program (KENSUP) in 2001. Today,

units. Other residents felt alienated living in high-rise

KENSUP is an on-going nation-wide initiative with the

structures, as they may be culturally inappropriate for the

goal of eradicating the five UN-defined factors of slums in

context and a cause of social isolation. The KENSUP pilot

urban areas across Kenya. In order to counter the negative

project in Kibera thus exemplifies a number of difficulties

consequences of unplanned and unregulated urban

well-intended interventions can face when implemented.

development in Kibera, the KENSUP program initiated

Unfortunately, the KENSUP pilot project in Kibera is far

various ‘slum upgrade’ projects in the neighborhood. The

from unique. Accordingly, new strategies and housing types

pilot project for KENSUP took place in the area, Soweto

are needed for countering the challenges associated with

East in Kibera, which has suffered a number of hardships

informal urbanization in Africa.

since it was established during colonial time, including

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‘Slum upgrade’ project in Kibera: New housing units in the background. Photo: KENSUP

‘Slum upgrade’ project in Kibera: New housing units next to existing urban structure. Photo: Google maps

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PROJECT Casas Melhoradas seeks to improve the living conditions for

outdoor activity), vertical additions to existing houses, and

low-income residents of Maputo through a three-fold focus:

multi-family homes with shared facilities.

1) Improve the quality and reduce the cost of housing through development of alternative construction methods.

The developed housing models, building techniques, and

2) Initiate sustainable urban development by curtailing

production methods are tested in full scale in collaboration

urban sprawl and utilizing space and infrastructure more

with local builders, through construction of test houses

economically through development of compact housing

which are subsequently evaluated to identify the most

typologies.

appropriate solutions for low-income groups in Maputo. The

3) Scale up the impact of the project by engaging in

constructed houses are rented out to local families through

partnerships with civil society, private companies, and public

the registered company Casas Melhoradas ltd.

institutions.

The project seeks to engage in public and private The project develops semi-industrial building component

partnerships on construction of affordable rental housing

production, and is experimenting with prefabricated element

in order to scale the impact of the project. As of 2018,

construction, produced locally in the informal settlements of

the project has collaborated with Universidade Eduardo

Maputo, based on the local capacities. Thereby the project

Mondlane (public institution), Reall (private housing

seeks to limit the waste of resources, reduce the price,

development enterprise), Arquitectura Sem Fronteiras

reduce the time of the construction process and improve the

/ Moçambique (NGO), Estamos (NGO), Bulande Arq.

quality of housing. The project has tested pre-fabrication of

(architecture studio), and Tækker Group (private developer).

light weight timber elements produced in a local carpentry workshop. These elements were subsequently transported

Given the scale of the informal urban growth across the

by hand and assembled into a complete house in a relatively

African continent, it is apparent that large-scale intervention

short time, without the use of heavy machinery. Finally, the

is required to confront the negative consequences of urban

project has tested alternative construction materials with low

development without planning and infrastructure provision.

carbon footprints in order to decrease the environmental

However, the notion of ‘slum upgrade’ programs have

impact of construction. This includes sustainably produced

mostly been misguided as the architectural models that

timber as well as compressed earth-block construction.

replace the informal urban areas often produce problems of alienation, crime, and social segregation. Furthermore,

The project develops multi-story housing typologies, rooted

shortsighted economic considerations and hidebound

in the local socio-economic and cultural conditions, seeking

perceptions of informal urban areas seem to be the main

to utilize space more efficiently in order to contain the

drivers of political decision-making, which will cause future

urban sprawl and use the land and infrastructure more

problems for such areas. Accordingly, innovation of adequate

economically. Thereby, the project seeks to facilitate the

urban development strategies, models of urban design,

development of more compact urban environments in

housing typologies, and construction techniques for informal

the informal settlements and make future infrastructure

settlements in Africa is vital for the future of African cities.

investments more cost-effective. On this background, the

On this background, the project seeks to inspire, provoke,

project seeks to enhance the sustainable urban development

and engage in the discussions about future sustainable

of Maputo. The project has tested several different multi-

development of informal settlements in Maputo and the

story housing typologies and optimized ground occupation

wider African context through construction of alternative

concepts adapted to the context. This includes exterior

housing projects.

kitchens in multi-story construction (as cooking is largely an

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sides of the fascist horizon of walls “ And within the four —the precise dimensions of a coffin— are the inevitable paces of someone who has been cloistered. ” - Jose Craveirinha PHASE 1 Casas Melhoradas Phase 1 was built in 2014 in Maxaquene

The project features a suspended plywood ceiling containing

C, an informal settlement close to the center of Maputo.

insulation foil as well as mosquito-net-protected natural

The housing concept is based on a simple building system,

ventilation openings, securing comfortable indoor climate.

consisting of lightweight wooden elements, prefabricated in

Local sustainable wood was used for the construction.

a local timber workshop, transported by hand and assembled

Recycled bottle caps were used for mounting the façade

for a complete housing unit in a relatively short time. The

cladding and old tires were used to produce prefabricated

construction system allows construction of various housing

point foundations. The house is raised above the ground and

typologies in up to two stories. However, due to budget

is therefore less prone to flooding. The project included an

constraints, it was only possible to build a single module, and

exterior latrine.

not ideally a denser typology in two stories. The house is a Budget: 3,000 USD. Size: 15 m2.

reinterpretation of the traditional ‘casa de madeira e zinco’.

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PHASE 2 Phase 2 was built in 2015 in Maxaquene A, an informal

floor. The vertical outdoor spaces between the street and

settlement close to the center of Maputo. The prototype

the house forms a social transition zone between inside and

consists of a heavy first floor concrete base with a light

outside, where there is room for cooking and interacting

two-story wooden house on top. The prototype is a modern

with passers-by. The kitchens are exterior because cooking

interpretation of the traditional ‘casa de Madeira e zinco’

is largely an outdoor activity as charcoal is commonly used.

and ‘casa de blocos’. Based on the experiences of Phase 1,

The rectangular volumes on the verandas contain gas stoves

the prefabricated wooden element structural system was

to reduce air pollution and deforestation caused by the use

optimized and used similarly; produced in a local carpentry

of charcoal. The project included exterior toilet and shower

workshop using sustainable wood. The project features a

units. The three-story prototype is located in an informal

suspended plywood ceiling containing insulation foil as well

settlement consisting of single-story homes, and thus

as mosquito-net-protected natural ventilation openings,

exemplifies how space and infrastructure can be used more

securing comfortable indoor climate. A building system

efficiently.

developed in the favelas of Brazil (vigotas e abobadilhas) was Budget: 15,000 USD. Size: 60 m2.

used for the concrete floor separating the first and second 34

PHASE 3 Phase 3 was built in 2016 and consists of a vertical addition

‘vigotas e abobadilhas’ technology for the concrete slab.

to an old house in proximity to the city center, in an informal

Similarly, sustainable wood was used and design to improve

settlement in the Polana Caniço neighborhood. The project

the indoor climate such as natural ventilation and suspended

demonstrates how existing buildings can be transformed to

ceilings was implemented. New windows were added to

meet the need for compact city development. As the most

the old ground floor, improving the indoor climate. A deep

centrally located informal settlements already have a building

gallery oriented towards the private outdoor areas give

coverage of approximately 25-50%, albeit almost exclusively

access to the two new housing units and works as a covered

single-story, providing the tools for adding a second story

porch, which provide shade from the sun and shelter from

to the existing building stock is pivotal for densifying

the rain. The project included exterior toilet and shower

these areas. In the case of Phase 3, an additional concrete

units.

structure was added to the old house supporting a new first floor timber construction. Like in Phase 2, the project was

Budget: 8,000 USD. Size: 30 m2.

constructed with locally produced timber elements and the

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Phase 3, existing house prior to vertical addition.

Phase 3, after vertical addition.

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Phase 3, context.

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PHASE 4 The project’s latest housing prototype was completed in

of charcoal. The project has small common courtyards with

2018 and consists of a low-rise, high-density row-house

shared bathrooms and laundry facilities. The project has a

typology with six dwellings on a plot where there would

green roof where an additional floor can be added, which

otherwise reside a single family. Accordingly, the project

ensures the project a robustness in case further urban

demonstrates how space and infrastructure can be utilized

densification should be relevant in the area. Furthermore,

more economically and thereby counter urban sprawl and

the evaporation from the roof cools down the building

the growing infrastructure deficit. All the dwellings have

and improves the indoor climate. The project was built

small private outdoor areas with kitchens, as cooking is

using locally produced compressed earth blocks. Thereby,

largely an outdoor activity in the informal settlements of

the energy consumption in the construction process was

Maputo due to the use of charcoal. On the ground floor,

reduced while adding the same red tone of the local soil to

the kitchens are placed on the verandas next to the street,

the project. The external walls were finished with a matte

adding a semi-private transition zone between the public

water repellent varnish protecting the walls from the rain.

and the private. All kitchens are equipped with gas stoves to reduce air pollution and deforestation caused by the use

Budget: 80,000 USD. Size: 230 m2.

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AA

Section AA, 1:400

A A

Plan 1, 1:400

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Elevation, 1:400

A A

Plan 2, 1:400

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Transport of construction materials

Prefabrication of timber elements

Transportation of prefabricated elements

Prefabricated elements are organized at construction site

Prefabricated structural system for concrete slab

Prefabricated structural system for concrete slab

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Prefabrication of timber elements

Prefabrication of timber elements

Prefabricated elements are assembled

Prefabricated elements assembled

Compressed earth block wall

Prefabricated system for concrete slab

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PHASE 5 Casas Melhoradas is currently collaborating with Arquitectura

and the Lawyers Order of Mozambique have developed the

Sem Fronteiras / Moçambique on developing new housing

following six-step plan towards DUAT in highly densified, non-

prototypes in the neighborhood Chamanculo C, as a part of

structured informal settlements: 1) Building up trust with the

the Habitat 2 project. The project seeks to formalize land

communities; 2) Geo-referenced survey; 3) Street expansions

ownership and improve the living conditions in Chamanculo.

and improvements; 4) Participatory urban design; 5) DUAT

The project works in dialogue with the communities to

application; 6) DUAT assignment.

open up the narrow alleys in order to improve conditions for access to services, mobility, and infrastructure provision.

As part of Habitat 2, Casas Melhoradas is collaborating with

The project has initiated land formalization processes in

Arquitectura Sem Fronteiras / Moçambique and the British

order to tackle the number of issues related to tenure

NGO Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP) on

insecurity described on page 22. The public authorities

the construction of multi-story housing typologies in cases

have developed a DUAT attribution method that cannot be

where street expansion would leave too little space for the

applied in a highly densified informal settlement, such as

affected families. The first two housing projects are currently

Chamanculo C, as the plot sizes and access conditions do not

being developed and include rainwater harvesting, improved

comply with regulation in the settlement. A total of 37% of

water and sanitation design, as well as outdoor space for

the plots in the first phase of the project did not fulfill the

allowing permeability of the rain into the ground in order to

requirements to access DUAT (minimum 100m2 plot size and

counter problems of storm water management in the area.

direct access to the street that a car can enter). Arquitectura

Construction is scheduled begin in 2019.

Sem Fronteiras / Moçambique, the Municipality of Maputo,

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Habitat 2 in Chamanculo C before the intervention, photo: Arquitectura Sem Fronteiras / Moçambique

Habitat 2 in Chamanculo C after the intervention, photo: Arquitectura Sem Fronteiras / Moçambique

79

URBAN PLANNING PROJECT IN MAXAQUENE D Casas Melhoradas is currently working on the project

Maxaquene D was selected for the project as it is one of the

Formal Land Rights in Maxaquene, in collaboration with

densest informal settlements in Maputo. It is characterized

Architects without Borders – Denmark, the Mozambican

by qualities related to its proximity to the formal city center,

NGO Estamos, and the Maputo-based architectural firm

having some degree of infrastructure, and being relatively

Bulande Arquitectos. The project seeks to reduce poverty by

well-connected to the public transportation system. Due

addressing the issue of informal landownership in Maputo.

to its central location, gentrification of the area within the

The project includes urban planning and formalizing land

following decades is likely. Formalization of landownership

rights in a sub-area of Maxaquene D. The project seeks to

would thus improve the options of the poor in this

develop the methodological tools for scaling up the project

process. Additionally, most of the neighborhood already

in subsequent interventions.

has a structured plan layout as a result of a structural land readjustment program by UN-Habitat in the 1970s, thus

The project will seek to formalize land rights at the scale of

rendering an approved master plan (PPU) unnecessary,

only one block (approximately 100 families/500 people) in

as a detail plan (PP) is sufficient in cases that have a

the first interventio, as the process is complicated. Efforts will

planned urban layout. Furthermore, little restructuring

be made to systematize the process in order to increase the

of the urban layout is necessary for complying with the

scale of the project in a subsequent intervention, covering

urban regulation. Accordingly, the chances of successfully

larger parts of Maxaquene D. The formalization process of

completing the project are higher in this area. Finally, there

the first block will thus serve as a reference for formalization

are many informal settlements that have planned urban

of the entire neighborhood in future interventions.

layouts but lack formal land rights, due to the planning categories discussed on page 10. As a result, providing the

The project will organize capacity building workshops for the

methodological steps for formalizing such areas in a low-cost

local community, focusing on urban planning and land rights.

procedure could pave the way for larger scale formalization

Concurrently, the project will work with urban planning at

processes in the city. On the background of the knowledge

the scale of the block, as an approved detail plan (plano por

on urban planning and land formalization processes acquired

menor) is a prerequisite for the residents to obtain formal

in the process of this first pilot project, Casas Melhoradas

land rights (DUAT). The workshops with the communities

seeks to scale up its activities in this field in the future.

will be used as platforms for discussing the plan, and the feedback from the community will be essential for the ongoing work with the plan.

Finally, the project will work with the families in the area to prepare applications for formal land titles (DUAT) once the detail urban plan has been finalized, submitted, and approved. The pilot project will terminate in 2019 with the aim of at least 50% of the families having received formal land titles.

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Area for pilot project in Maxaquene D, 1:1000

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with rubbish “ From the sides of the roadlettarred us gaze, puzzled,

at the sarcastic-looking buildings we have smashed up.

Doesn’t it hurt?

- Jose Craveirinha

”

FUTURE PERSPECTIVES ON THE PROJECT The constructed prototypes are not to be considered an ‘end

The first four houses were constructed for 200-400 USD

result’ but rather a contribution to a continuous professional

per m2, which is comparable with prices of conventional

discussion regarding urban development strategies, urban

single-story housing construction in the informal settlements

design, housing typologies, and construction methods in

of Maputo. However, the quality of the prototypes is higher

the informal settlements of Maputo as well as the wider

than the average house in the same price range, and phase

African context. Accordingly, the project has received valid

2-4 are multi-story, which is more expensive to construct

professional criticism, not the least from the Mozambican

than single-story housing. By scaling the project, it would

architectural profession. As one of the main goals of the

be possible to further reduce the price. Each housing unit is

project is to fuel professional debates regarding said issues

approximately 15 m2 – 30 m2 (totaling approximately 4000-

all the criticism and discussions sparked by the project are

8000 USD). Each housing unit is rented out for approximately

welcomed and appreciated.

50-100 USD per Month. According to the International Monetary Fund (2013), the annual GDP (PPP) per capita

Participatory and Inclusive Land Readjustment (PILaR), is a

in Mozambique is 1,327 USD, approximately 110 USD per

concept developed by the UN, as a tool to develop centrally

month. However, the figure is expectedly higher in Maputo,

located informal settlements. The land market value of

as it is the capital of the country. The first three houses were

centrally located informal settlements may exceed the value

constructed on land owned by low-income families who

of the buildings of the settlement. If the property value of

receive a part of the rent and take over the houses once

an informal settlement is high enough, it may be financially

they are fully financed, either for private use or for renting

viable to construct high-density housing for the residents

out. The project receives 70% of the rent, the plot owners

of informal settlements while freeing space that can be

receive 20% and the remaining 10% is for administration.

sold off in order to finance the operation. The purpose of

Each housing unit is thus fully financed over a 10 year period.

such interventions is improving the living conditions of the

The contracts with the families span over a 15 year period.

residents, formalize the landownership, and implement

However, as negotiating and doing contracts in the informal

infrastructure, financed through the optimizing the land

settlements was complicated, Phase 4 was constructed on

occupation and selling the vacant land. As a part of the

vacant land acquired by the project. Further experiments

urban planning project in Maxaquene D, Casas Melhoradas

with tenure typologies will be carried out in the future.

will explore options for combining high-density housing with formalization of landownership in the area. As the

The project will build new prototypes during 2019-22 and is

landownership formalization process entails a property

currently seeking investors and donors. Casas Melhoradas is

value increase, this may be a key to acquiring economic

a VAT registered company in Mozambique managed by Johan

sustainability and consequent scalability of the project, while

Mottelson, Jørgen Eskemose, and Raul Carlos Machaeie.

confronting wider issues of access, mobility, and lack of Read more on www.casasmelhoradas.com

infrastructure.

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D I S S E M I N AT I O N A C T I V I T I E S The project seeks to inspire and encourage debate and

List of selected exhibitions

professional discussions on urban development strategies,

AFRICA – Architecture, Culture and Identity at Louisiana

urban design, housing typologies, and construction methods

Museum of Modern Art (2015)

in the informal settlements of Maputo as well as the wider

The Art of Many – The Right to Space, Venice Biennale of

African context. Consequently, efforts are continuously made

Architecture, the Danish Pavilion (2016)

to disseminate the project outputs. On this background the

The Art of Many – The Right to Space, The Danish Centre of

project has been exhibited and published on a wide range

Architecture (2016)

of acclaimed platforms, as well as part of numerous lectures

The Art of Many – The Right to Space, Utzon Center (2016)

and panel discussions on urban development in Africa.

Architecture of Necessity, Virserum Museum of Art (2013 and 2016)

In addition to the wider involvement in public dissemination

The XX Architecture and Urbanism Biennale (2017)

activities, the project is rooted in the research on urban

World Habitat Day Exhibition, CCBM - Centro Cultural Brasil

development in Africa at the Institute of Architecture,

Moçambique (2017)

Urbanism and Landscape at KADK - The Royal Danish

Africa: Rethinking Architecture and Design, KADK - The Royal

Academy of Fine Arts Schools of Architecture, Design

Danish Academy of Fine Arts Schools of Architecture, Design

and Conservation. The project involves both Danish and

and Conservation (2018)

Mozambican architecture students through workshops, field List of selected publications

work, and hands on work with construction of prototypes.

Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts Designs Low-Income Finally, the project collaborates with Architects Without

Housing Prototypes in Mozambique, Archdaily (2015)

Borders - Denmark, and involves volunteers from the

Low-cost house in Mozambique features corrugated iron and

organization, providing Danish architects with first-hand

wood, Design Indaba (2015)

experience with construction and urban planning practice in

Housing in the Informal City, Arkitekten, (2016)

developing countries as well as engagement in some of the

Casas Melhoradas Reimagines Affordable Housing in Maputo,

most urgent issues confronting the profession at global scale.

Mozambique, Archdaily (2016) Sustainable structures and price tags, CPI Financial (2016) The solution to affordable housing in Mozambique, African Design Magazine (2016) Low-cost housing project harnesses existing infrastructure, Design Indaba (2016) Small houses, Arkitekten (2017) Can you deliver affordable housing while increasing the quality?, Design Indaba (2018) Compact Housing in the Informal Settlements of Maputo / Casas Melhoradas, Archdaily (2018)

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Casas Melhoradas exhibited at AFRICA: Architecture, Culture and Identity, Louisiana - Museum of Modern Art

Workshop with students at the school of architecture (FAPF) in Maputo

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REFERENCES There are various efforts being made to tackle the challenges

planners, an urban development team with planners and

of informal urban growth in the informal settlements of

architects from the UK, Canada, and Denmark as the driving

Maputo. The following projects have contributed to the

force was built up within Maputo city council from 1980 and

issues outlined in this publication in various ways.

onwards. The program managed to provide approximately 12,000 plots, organized in neighborhood clusters with

The project Casa Minha constructs multi-story housing in

land reserved for roads, schools, health care posts, and

informal settlements to counter the issues of urban sprawl.

recreation. The layouts were simple, motivated by the need

The model of Casa Minha is based on replacing a family’s

for fast demarcation and the limited technical capacity

shack with several multi-story dwellings on the same plot

within the municipal authorities. Today, plots are increasingly

of land. The family is given one of the housing units and

provided by small and medium informal suppliers in the

the others are sold on market conditions to finance the

urban periphery. These land suppliers contract local planners,

operation.

who subdivide plots in a similar way as was pioneered by the

The project Kaya Clinica works with formalizing land rights

city council in the 1980s and which continues to this day as

and improving access conditions in the informal settlement

a cultural model, that many low-income residents see as a

Bairro George Dimitrov, similarly to the Habitat 2 project in

desirable urban form. The experience shows how a strategic,

Chamanculo C described on page 80. The Kaya Clinica project

low-cost and hands-on approach in response to rapidly

seeks to formalize land ownership and improve access and

expanding urban setting can produce significant results,

infrastructure conditions in the area.

as locals replicate the models, thereby reaching scale and consequent impact.

In the 1980’s the Swedish architect Björn Brandberg developed the Latrina Melhoradas (better latrines), also

These projects all demonstrate pragmatic approaches to

known as the SanPlat System for low-cost sanitation. The

the issues discussed in this book. Casa Minha is an example

latrine system consists of a curved concrete slab placed

of low-rise, high-density urban design in the informal

over a hole in the ground with concrete blocks on the sides,

settlements of Maputo, addressing the future population

making a pit latrine. The concept gained acceptance in over

growth, infrastructure deficit, and decreasing mobility

20 African countries where 4-5 million SanPlat latrines have

of the city. Habitat 2 and Kaya Clinica are both engaged

been built, improving the hygienic and sanitary conditions for

with issues of informal land ownership, providing better

millions of people. In Maputo, where the SanPlat system was

access conditions, and improvement of services in the

first developed, the design is widely copied locally and semi-

informal settlements of Maputo. Latrinas Melhoradas

industrialized manufacturing of the system is seen in many of

demonstrate how innovation in design can lead to large-scale

the low-income neighborhoods.

improvements in livelihood for the urban poor. The strategic action planning program of the 1980’s demonstrated how

A program from the 1980’s, ‘Strategic Action Planning’,

large scale results are possible through political prioritizing

succeeded in curbing unplanned urban expansion of Maputo

and visionary planning. These projects display an awareness

and created a desirable urban form compared to the

of the issues discussed in this book. However, the current

predominant unplanned urban expansion. Independence

efforts have only achieved small-scale accomplishments

accelerated the urbanization of Maputo, which took place

compared to the volume of the informal urban growth. More

without formal housing supply. Although post-independence

political priority is needed if the issues discussed in this book

Mozambique had hardly any qualified architects and

are to be confronted.

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Laulane neighborhood of Maputo. Planned and developed partially facilitated with funding from Denmark.

Arial photo of Machava,an area planned infomally by local professionals with inspiration from previous development projects

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Casa Minha in Polana Caniço. Photo Casa Minha.

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Installation of latrine.

Latrinas Melhoradas, Bjorn Brandberg, 1985.

Installation of latrine.

Semi industrialized production of latrinas melhoradas in Maputo.

Latrines sold by the side of the road.

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CASAS MELHORADAS Affordable housing in Maputo, Mozambique Casas Melhoradas is an applied research project on housing for low-income groups in the informal settlements of Maputo, Mozambique with a three-fold focus: 1) Improve the quality and reduce the cost of housing through development of alternative construction methods.

2) Initiate sustainable urban development by curtailing urban sprawl and utilizing space and infrastructure more economically through development of compact housing typologies.

3) Scale up the impact of the project by engaging in partnerships with civil society, private companies, and public institutions.

This publication contains background material on the project, information about the first four constructed housing projects, as well as a brief outline of ongoing and future project activities.

Cities across the African continent are undergoing rapid urban transformations in order to accommodate the high urban population growth. Informal settlements are the predominant contemporary urban type in Sub-Saharan Africa and the number of residents of informal settlements is projected to double over the next 15-20 years. The growth of African cities causes comprehensive challenges for

sustainable development, including issues such as access to safe water, stable food supply, decreasing mobility, growing infrastructure deficit, loss of arable land, and lack of basic services. There are few examples of successful development of informal urban areas. Many so-called ‘slum upgrade’ projects in Africa fail to accommodate the culture and way of life in informal settlements and often produce new forms of social problems when implemented. Accordingly, innovation within urban development strategies, urban design, housing typologies, and construction methods for informal settlements in Africa is vital for the future of African cities. On this background, Casas Melhoradas seeks to inspire, provoke, and engage in the discussions about sustainable development of informal settlements in Maputo and the wider African context through construction of alternative housing projects.

Casas Melhoradas is carried out by Institute of Architecture, Urbanism & Landscape, at KADK the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts Schools of Architecture, Design and Conservation, and is linked to the institution’s research on urban development in the Global South. The project collaborates with the Mozambican NGO Estamos, Architects without Borders – Denmark, and Arquitectura Sem Fronteiras / Moçambique.