The Elandskloof community lives on a farm that was restituted to its approximately 500 inhabitants under the land reform process. They were dispossessed of their land in 1962 by the apartheid government and it was returned to them in 1996. Nearly 30 years later the residents are still living in informal dwellings. For the Elandsklowers this project has the potential to change their lives and they are engaged in its every stage, starting with a pilot 8 m x 8 m crèche to demonstrate the nonCrete method.

Elandskloof is situated in the valley of the Groot Winterhoek Strategic Water Source Area (SWSA), one of 22 key water sources for South Africa. Its riverbanks are full of black wattle and the removal of alien invasive trees within a 50 km radius will have huge impact in freeing up available freshwater.

Making use of the alien invasive biomass, the nonCrete method significantly reduces the amount of stone, sand and cement used in standard concrete bricks. The bricks also have a higher degree of fire resistance and superior thermal qualities, helping to keep homes warm in winter and cool in summer.

In addition to the bricks, nonCrete has also developed a vaulted floor and roof system developed in collaboration with the CSIR and the Head of the Institute of Technology in Architecture at ETH Zurich, Professor of Architecture Philippe Block. This is an exceptional design that follows the motto of “strength through geometry.

The floor and roof system significantly reduces the amount of steel and concrete required and has 75% lower carbon emissions than a conventional concrete flat slab. It complies with Eurocode load requirements for multilevel construction in residential, office and other buildings.

Furthermore, community members will be trained in alien invasive tree clearing and wood chipping, brickmaking on-site and the construction method, which would create self-employment and SMMEs for women and men in Elandskloof, where the vast majority of people are unemployed.

Visit https://noncrete.com/ to learn more