New water and energy-efficient, quality and affordable housing on the cards for Zambians

The Zambia Green Jobs Programme announced the winners of two creative design competitions aiming at delivering functional, affordable and new energy-efficient housing.

News | 20 May 2013
Launched earlier this year, the architectural competitions targeted mainly members of the Zambian Institute of Architects (ZIA), as well as innovators in the area of green buildings.

The winners in the category one family, low cost housing (approximately 70 m² in size) were Ms. Mutinta Sichali, Mr. James Chantemba and Mr. Andrew Ose Phiri. The Afrospace Company and Ms. Mutinta Sichali received the first prize in the category medium cost housing (approximately 90 m² in size). Winners in both categories received Zambian Kwacha (ZMK) 22’500 (USD 4’270), second prize winners received ZMK 5’000 and third prize winner in the low cost category received ZMK 2’000.

In addition to this, an open submission in both categories (low-cost and medium cost housing) invited also others, i.e. architecture students, to submit innovative ideas.

“We did not want to limit the green building design competition to the membership of ZIA alone as we were keen to receive all creative and innovative ideas even from draftsman and architectural university students to maximize on Zambian building design talent”, Benard Mabo, Senior Lecturer at the Copperbelt University School of Built Environment, noted.

“We were overwhelmed not only by the number of responses received but also by the level of innovations. The open competition led to a free flow of ideas, which can be incorporated into the final designs of green housing at later stages”, said Marko Nokkala, project manager at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland.

In the open submission category, students were particularly active, displaying some of the most inspiring designs and ideas suitable for Zambian markets. The winners of the low cost category in the open competition were Kasonde Mwenda and Innocent Chipampe. The first prize of the medium cost category of the open competition went to Issac Maambo and Chibuye Chimbukuma.

“We are committed to improving the construction sector in Zambia towards more green, safe and high quality outputs. The final designs and manuals to be produced by the Zambia Institute of Architects and Copperbelt University School of the Built Environment with support from the Green Jobs Programme and their technical partner VTT will offer everyone a chance for affordable housing without compromising the designs or quality. This will boost Zambia’s competitiveness in the region, not to mention the improvement in livelihoods”, noted a seasoned Zambian Architect, Noville Ravensdale, council member, Zambia Institute of Architects and chair of the competition jury.

The winners will be honoured during a special ceremony scheduled for 21 May 2013 in Lusaka in the presence of the Finnish Minister for International Development, Mrs. Heidi Hautala. The ceremony will be preceded by an interactive workshop on green buildings to be held in Lusaka on 22 May 2013. Winning entities from both competitions will be displayed at the Raddison Blu Hotel Lusaka during the Zambia-Finland Trade and Business Forum, 20 – 22 May 2013.

The Zambia Green Jobs Programme, financed by Finland, is founded on a human and environment rights-based approach for improving the sustainable livelihoods of rural and urban families through private sector development. Special support goes to sustainable micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to grow and create green jobs. The cooperation with the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland allows strengthening the capacity of local architects to design water and energy-efficient, quality and affordable living spaces for low and middle income families in Zambia. The Programme is implemented by government ministries and institutions, financial institutions, business development service providers, associations of small scale contractors and other private sector players in the building construction industry. Technical assistance is provided by a consortium of UN agencies, namely FAO, UNEP, UNCTAD and ITC led by the ILO and jointly working together as One UN.