Basic Infrastructure & Housing

Spotlight on: Country Series Rwanda

The Crucial Role of Transport in Building Green Cities: Insights from Rwanda

By |2023-05-30T10:59:42+02:00May 30th 2023|Basic Infrastructure & Housing, Urban Mobility, , , , |

Highlighting the country's initiatives, challenges, and innovative solutions for building green cities Michelle DeFreese explores the path to sustainable transportation in Rwanda.

Spotlight on: Country Series Rwanda

The Construction Industry in Rwanda: Opportunities or Challenges for Urban Growth?

By |2023-05-16T10:46:17+02:00May 16th 2023|Basic Infrastructure & Housing, Climate Change & Resilience, , , , , , |

Rwanda’s urban population is rapidly increasing, posing chances and challenges. Enrico Morriello illustrates how the country’s construction industry could pave the way to sustainable urbanisation.

Spotlight on: Energy in Cities

Navigating Heterogeneity: The Way to a Just Energy Transition in the Global South’s Housing Sector

By |2023-04-20T11:29:57+02:00April 20th 2023|Basic Infrastructure & Housing, Energy & Waste, Housing & Informality, , , , , |

Achieving a just energy transition in the urban housing sectors of the Global South demands recognition and engagement with their heterogeneous energy networks and rapidly evolving spatialities. Marie Urfels explores the challenges of achieving a just energy transition in the housing sector of the Global South while emphasising the importance of embracing these complexities to create targeted, context-specific solutions.

Spotlight on: Energy in Cities

Improving Thermal Comfort in Community Buildings in India’s Informal Settlements

By |2023-04-12T15:57:40+02:00April 11th 2023|Basic Infrastructure & Housing, Climate Change & Resilience, Housing & Informality, , , |

India has a long tradition of building climate-friendly houses. But in the case of informal settlements, applying this knowledge presents many difficulties. This leads to intense heat stress for residents. However, there is hope on the horizon, as we highlight an exciting initiative: utilising innovative design solutions for thermal comfort in community buildings in Chennai and Coimbatore - an Urban Living Lab approach.

Spotlight on: Cities built4climate

Applying Ancestral Lessons to Contemporary Realities – A Return to Ghana’s Architectural Heritage

By |2022-11-18T17:54:32+01:00November 15th 2022|Basic Infrastructure & Housing, Climate Change & Resilience, , , , |

Breathing new life into city architecture through native materials and construction techniques will catalyse lasting change and adaptability amidst unpredictable climate change-related incidences. Kweku Addo-Atuah on a return to Ghana's architectural heritage.

Spotlight on: Cities built4climate

Sustainable Cities With a Soul

By |2022-11-10T12:58:19+01:00November 10th 2022|Basic Infrastructure & Housing, , , |

Concrete is the second most consumed material in the world after water, making it an essential component of urban development. However, cheap housing comes at a price. Can we still afford to pay for it? Jorge Javier and Cecilia Tortajada provide clear responses.

Spotlight on: Cities built4climate

A School with a Soul: Eco-Friendly and Community-Driven Building in Cape Town

By |2022-11-03T11:47:56+01:00November 3rd 2022|Basic Infrastructure & Housing, Energy & Waste, , , , , |

Sustainable building approaches are not only more environmentally friendly than conventional building methods – but they may also teach people how to avoid waste. Peter McIntosh, the founder of the Natural Building Collective, highlights the advantages through the example of Ulwazi Educare in Cape Town.

Spotlight on: Cities built4climate

The ‘Qubba Classroom’: Towards Sustainable Design Solutions in Humanitarian Settings

By |2022-11-02T12:27:01+01:00November 1st 2022|Basic Infrastructure & Housing, Housing & Informality, , , , , |

Difficult environmental conditions and scarce economic resources require new building solutions within the context of displacement and humanitarian aid. Andrea Maggiolo and Michael Ulfstjerne discuss chances and challenges based on the example of the ‘Qubba Classroom’ within the Za’atari Village.

Spotlight on: Risk and Crisis Management

The Global Housing Crisis: A Crisis Unlike Any Other

By |2022-10-25T13:26:13+02:00October 25th 2022|Basic Infrastructure & Housing, Global Urban Debates, , , |

Echoes of the same story can be heard in cities across the globe – homelessness is on the rise and the cost of housing is increasing at an alarming rate while the availability of decent housing dwindles. Kirsten McRae with recent statistics on the global housing crisis and why we should no longer financialise our most basic human good.

Spotlight on: Urban Health

Rebuilding Evicted Kampungs in Jakarta – Restoring Communities, Providing a Better Quality of Life

By |2022-09-27T10:07:48+02:00September 27th 2022|Basic Infrastructure & Housing, Urban Health, , , , |

Forced evictions and displacements should be stopped, but it is not enough. Muhammad Azka Gulsyan wants us to think about how to rebuild the evicted homes, and restore affected communities and their livelihoods. Vertical Kampung-projects in Jakarta show that rebuilding and restoration are possible.

Spotlight on: Young Voices

Urban Space Era: A Disruptive Approach Towards a Resilient City

By |2022-09-06T17:34:38+02:00August 30th 2022|Basic Infrastructure & Housing, Youth & Gender, , , , , |

Delhi, just as many other cities around the world, struggles to provide adequate housing for migrant workers. Young architect Kaif Ali presents a potential solution

Spotlight on: Young Voices

The (Urban) Relevance of Community-Making

By |2022-08-30T09:04:23+02:00August 25th 2022|Basic Infrastructure & Housing, Youth & Gender, , , , , , |

The approach of the Fundación Hogares understands the relevance of strengthening social cohesion in neighbourhoods to respond to city-scale challenges. José Roberto shares some valuable insights into how community organisations are shaping their surroundings in infrastructure as well as in inclusiveness.

SPOTLIGHT ON: AFFORDABLE CITIES

Land Value Capture: Creating the Financial Means for Affordable Cities

By |2022-07-19T09:02:27+02:00July 19th 2022|Basic Infrastructure & Housing, Governance & Finance, , , |

Creating liveable, affordable cities requires significant public investments. How to finance them? The answer may lie in land value capture. This financing tool allows municipalities to recover the land value gains that result from public action such as zoning changes or investment in public infrastructure, to invest them back into the city. Sena Segbedzi, OECD Champion Mayors for Inclusive Growth Initiative, shares stories of success from all over the world.

SPOTLIGHT ON: WORLD URBAN FORUM

Urban Challenges in Post-COVID Times

By |2022-06-30T09:36:48+02:00June 30th 2022|Basic Infrastructure & Housing, Governance & Finance, , , , , |

The COVID-19 crisis has exacerbated existing challenges in the domain of social inclusion and housing. Cynthia Goytia on how cities can rise to these challenges and which solutions have already proven successful in urban Latin America.

SPOTLIGHT ON: WORLD URBAN FORUM

Quality Urban Fabric Will Determine the Fate of Tomorrow’s Cities

By |2022-06-21T10:11:55+02:00June 21st 2022|Basic Infrastructure & Housing, , , |

While we assume cities will continue to face rapid growth, the COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced a trend which counters linear population projections: qualified professionals no longer move where work is, but work from where they want to live. If, before the pandemic, cities competed to attract head offices or multinational corporations, today they have to compete for each qualified individual.

Go to Top