Low cost construction technologies and materials - case study Mozambuique

Abstract

Low cost or affordable construction technologies and materials are often touted as a panacea in meeting the ever growing demand for rapid housing delivery in developing economies. Mozambique as with most of the developing world, from both historical perspectives and global trends in rural to urban migration, suffers an enormous service backlog and massive delivery challenges in addressing its millennium development goals in the provision of housing and shelter. It is generally acknowledged that there has recently been serious focus and growth towards the use of eco-materials and sustainable architecture in both developed and developing countries, drawn primarily as a response to global warming concerns. However the paradox of the third world remains; that the majority of populations remain steeped in traditional construction methods, which using today’s modern scientific carbon ‘footprint’ analytic tools and relative to western comparisons qualify as low cost, green or ecological construction technologies . Ironically the biggest challenge facing the wide spread use of low-cost construction technologies in a modern economy today is primarily not sustainability but compliance with current norms in building standards and their ability to provide what we have come to currently socially characterize as reasonable shelter and comfort. This is often the basis of social acceptance and sustainable adoption of innovative low-cost solutions. This strategic perspective is often lost on advocacy groups or innovators. Regrettably this has led many innovative interventions to being stillborn. This paper explores the authors’ experiences in carrying out a country survey of building materials, revision of building standards and lessons learnt on a Ministry of Science and Technology, Mozambique in 2006 on the setting up of a pilot model Millennium Village and a national project on “Locally available materials for construction in Mozambique using appropriate technologies – (Low – Cost Construction)”.