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SEE: The Future of Housing

Take a tour of this 300K sustainable home that could be the future of affordable and sustainable housing in South Africa

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By Amy Saunders | July 27, 2021 | Innovative

Picture: The Mahali HUB, Instagram

Team Mahali, a group of graduates and young professionals from South Africa, Zimbabwe and Nigeria, designed the Mahali HUB sustainable home which was revealed as part of the City’s Cape Town Future Energy Festival.

Team Mahali comprises of multidisciplinary students across the fields of architecture, psychology, communication, urban metabolisms, renewable energy engineering, food system transitions, applied economics, futuring, experimentation and sustainable cities. Their mission is to design, construct and operate affordable net-zero-energy housing conducive African social, ecological and economic sustainability.

Team Mahali has also paricipated in the Solar Decathlon Africa where they were awarded second place for the Design and Architecture category and produces upcycled bespoke furniture pieces among a variety of other projects.

The Mahali HUB was awarded first prize in the ultimate ‘clean green home’ design competition, which was hosted by the City of Cape Town in partnership with the Green building Council of South Africa (GBCSA).

The home uses solar power, harvests rainwater and features a lounge, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, food garden and a courtyard. Take a look at the video tour of the home below.