Co-designing affordable housing solutions that are safer under flood conditions.
A community-grounded housing prototype that combines affordability, local buildability and improved resilience to flooding and related climate hazards.
Project overview
This project aims to develop and demonstrate a practical, low-cost housing prototype that improves safety, durability and habitability in flood-prone informal settlements. It responds to the challenge that households in vulnerable settlements often face high exposure to flooding while upgrading options are constrained by cost, insecure tenure, limited services and the need for incremental construction.
The project will combine evidence-based design with community participation. Locally available materials and construction approaches will be assessed against cost, availability, constructability, environmental impact, durability, thermal comfort and hazard performance. Community priorities and household needs will then inform prototype development by architects and engineers, followed by feasibility assessment and, where possible, construction of a demonstration structure.
Key activities
Review flood-resilient informal housing and incremental upgrading approaches.
Assess candidate materials and design options using a transparent selection framework.
Engage a selected community and household to identify practical requirements and constraints.
Develop and evaluate prototype designs with relevant built-environment professionals.
Expected outputs
Evidence synthesis on flood-resilient housing and hazard-informed design principles.
Materials and design assessment matrix.
Prototype design package, including drawings, specifications and indicative bill of quantities.
Feasibility findings and, subject to approvals and resources, a demonstration structure.
Why this project matters The project connects technical design with the realities of informal settlement living. Its value lies in producing an affordable and replicable concept that can inform community-led improvement, municipal upgrading and broader climate-resilient housing practice