Meeting with ACC Project Manager (2 July 2024)

Date: 2 July 2024

Location: University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

Overview of the Meeting

On 2 July 2024, the project manager of the African Centre for Cities (ACC) met with our team following the success of the Innovative Solutions for Affordable Housing (ISAH) Symposium held from 4–6 June 2024. Inspired by the symposium’s outcomes, the project manager sought to discuss speculative experiments involving alternative building materials and practices as part of a broader effort to address the housing crisis in informal settlements.

The meeting aimed to foster an open dialogue on how speculative approaches and alternative methodologies could be used to address housing challenges in informal settlements. Rather than a formal presentation, the discussion was conversational, encouraging active participation and collaboration between stakeholders.

This meeting with the ACC project manager underscored the importance of speculative approaches and collaborative innovation in addressing the housing crisis in informal settlements. By leveraging historical knowledge, involving communities, and fostering partnerships across sectors, we can continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in affordable housing development. The ideas shared during this discussion will serve as a foundation for future live experiments and academic research, further advancing the goals of the ISAH initiative.

More information available on request.