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The Sustainable African Metropolis

Research project welcomes partners and sponsors

Many African cities have great interest in new methods for sustainable building. After decades of uncontrolled and unplanned urban development, municipalities are now trying to use the sun – and the shadow – as well as other natural resources in their urban development plans.

“There is a lot of local knowledge in this area, and combining that with western architectural techniques will surely result in a win-win situation”, says Robert van Kats. His architecture firm in The Netherlands is starting a two-year project to identify local expertise on sustainable architecture all over Africa. Sponsors and partners are most welcome to join and support the project!

“We have been working in several African countries,” says Robert, of Blok Kats van Veen Architects in Amsterdam, “and we see many local governments facing the same problem: how to pick the best ideas and combine it with the best local experts or international knowledge on sustainability. We found that many local organisations in Africa want to work together with other local or European experts on existing and future projects. We want to bring these ideas together by interviewing designers, developers and politicians across Africa, as we believe sharing knowledge and ideas will help build Africa's future.”

Combine best practices

Kats and his fellow architects have some experience in the field of combining their own best practices in the area of sustainable building with that of local African experts. They did so - for example - at the new University in Mouila in Gabon recently. Robert (right in picture, taken in Gabon): “In collaboration with the local people from Maissa Architectures, we were able to make a unique project because of the high degree of sustainability of the campus; we use indirect natural light extensively and as little of artificial light as possible. Renewable hydropower, a biogas plant and photovoltaic cells will largely supply the energy supply of the campus. In the meantime we avoid the use of energy-inefficient and expensive conventional air conditioning. Putting together local and international expertise proved to be a winning combination that leads to an extremely durable and energy efficient plan”, says Robert.

Project: help, funds and inspiration welcome

Ideas, best practices in urban development and expertise from cases like the Gabon project should be researched and spread; the research by interviews project ‘The Sustainable African Metropolis’ covers a maximum period of two years. The first articles will be published in November this year in paper and online media. The start of the project will be at the international conference ‘African Perspectives 2011’ which will be held from November 3-5 in Casablanca.

Kats’ firm is investing money and resources into the project and is looking for partners to sponsor travel, accommodation and other costs. “But we are definitely also looking for projects and ideas, expertise and inspiration that can be part of this study”, says van Kats, who urges to visit the project’s Biz2Biz profile on Club Africa. Or contact Robert directly at robert@bkvv.nl

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