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Green Architecture in Africa Professional challenges for designers
Hector Chapa Sikazwe,2009, Newcastle upon TyneUK
 
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Green Architecture in Africa Professional challenges for designers
Hector Chapa SikazweKeywords
Green architecture, sustainability, design costs Global warming, Energy efficiency, Co2emissions, bio gas, local Materials, government legislationLegislation
Table of Contents
Abstract
................................................................................................................................................. 3
1.0
 
Introduction
............................................................................................................................... 4
2.0
 
Green issues in Africa
............................................................................................................... 5
3.0
 
Prevailing challenges and initiatives
......................................................................................... 7
4.0
 
Special considerations
............................................................................................................... 9
4.1
 
Location of buildings and heat issues
................................................................................... 9
4.2
 
Small spaces/structures
....................................................................................................... 11
4.3
 
Solar Energy
....................................................................................................................... 12
4.4
 
Renewable Energy
.............................................................................................................. 12
4.5
 
Conserving water
................................................................................................................ 12
4.6
 
Using local and natural materials
........................................................................................ 13
4.7
 
Saving our forests
................................................................................................................ 13
4.8
 
Durability
............................................................................................................................ 14
5.0
 
Conclusion
.............................................................................................................................. 15
6.0
 
References and Bibliography
.................................................................................................. 17
 
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Abstract
According to Mhlaba (2003), the impact of foreign motives on African architecture hasremained a force to address. He states that since colonial interventions African architecture,much like all other aspects, has been a victim of suppression; drowned into Eurocentricstandards of definitions and interpretations. Much of academic materials and buildingsdesigned in the name of African architecture so far, have displayed, from various angles,influences of colonial ideologies; consciously, subconsciously or unconsciously so. There is aparadigm whose conscious mission has been to reinforce European imperialist objectives inthe continent through the built environment and that has acted contra to sustainable design.As expected, African architects and designers face unique challenges when faced with theconcepts of green design architectural theories that have been in circulation for over thirtyyears in developed nations. Farmer (1999), explains that Green architecture is an approach tobuilding design which has become more prevalent in the last 25 to 30 years. The concept thatis widely known in African design offices as “sustainable design” is the equivalent of “greenarchitecture” and is defined simply as a method of design that minimizes the impact of building effects on the ecology and general environmental systems. Green architecture wasonce thought of as unconventional and nonstandard, but has quickly become an accepted wayof approach to design by both regulatory agencies and the public alike as a sociallyresponsible and logical means of construction for the future.For African Architects and design professionals, the beginnings of today's green revolution indeveloped nations can be traced back to the social awareness of the 1960s in European designsuch as is found in Scandinavia. With the introduction of new construction techniques thathave led to the development of innovative materials and design concepts, African designershave been left behind as they face different challenges that this paper attempts to address. Aswidely observed by green proponents, indeed, successfully designed green projects can
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