Sustainable urban development backed by the UN

Julien de Smedt, founder of JDS architects, has joined forces with Othalo, a Norweigan start-up that has developed a patented technology that makes it possible to produce building elements from 100% recycled plastic.

Coinciding with World Habitat Day 2020, the two companies have entered into a partnership with UN habitat, the United Nations program for human settlements and sustainable urban development.

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Othalo has stated that its initial focus will be to construct affordable housing, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. It is reported that nearly one billion people are currently living in slums, and in sub-Saharan Africa alone, the immediate need for low-cost housing is 160 million units. This number is expected to increase to 360 million by 2050 as a result of rapid urbanization. As traditional construction methods are neither efficient, economical, or sufficiently sustainable, a technology that enables industrial upcycling of waste and mass production is essential to meet today’s urgent needs.

Since 1950, more than 9 billion tonnes of plastic have been produced globally, of which only 9% is recycled. A 60 square meter (645 sqf) Othalo house recycles eight tonnes of plastic waste. This means that with today’s plastic waste, more than 1 billion houses can be built. Over the next 18 months, Othalo will develop its first series of building elements and designs for low-cost homes. The company expects to be ready to start mass production in early 2022.

‘In thinking new environments we will set our focus towards the co-creation of living conditions in direct partnership with the local communities and end users,’ says Julien de Smedt. ‘What we find particularly uplifting in our approach as a company and as architects is the desire to bridge the manufacturing world with the one of the local crafts and culture.’

Images by JDS architects/Othalo via Design Boom

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