Unlocking the Potential of Local Circular Materials in Urbanising Africa

Africa is the fastest-growing region in the world. Its population is projected to grow 220 % from 2020 to 2100, from 1,3 billion to 4,3 billion people. The need for new construction is enormous, especially in cities. It is projected that in 2050 80 % of the buildings in Africa have been built after 2015. Unfortunately, current construction in Africa is highly dependent on imported construction materials with high negative environmental impacts. This SBC publication presents a building concept for high-density neighbourhoods that promotes the use of responsibly sourced local materials. We are looking for opportunities to implement the concept in suitable demonstration projects.