Sustainable housing : dilemmas and solutionss : a case study of Kampala, Uganda

Abstract

In Kampala, sixty percent of the population live in informal settlements in the swampy areas of the city, while the well-off part of the population live on the hills. Appreciation of permanent building materials is common regardless of income-level. Production of building materials are among many sources of greenhouse emissions, due to its energy-intensive character of processing. Therefore, new materials and techniques must be identified as proper materials in order to create housing for all and maybe looking back at traditional materials and techniques can provide alternatives. A typical feature of low-income settlements is that people there are faced by challenges in their direct surroundings. Inadequate sanitary services are one of these challenges and create health-threats in the form of diarrheal diseases and at the same time pollute natural habitats with it untreated run-off. By imitating the natural cycle of water and nutrients, it is possible to reduce this threat and at the same time create ecosystems within the city to enhance the lives of those who live there. Specifically this means prevent wastes getting in touch with water-bodies by reusing them in food production. The social, economic and environmental aspects of sustainability must be met in order to create a desirable outcome.