SUSTAINABLE LIVING IN THE MAKING

Posted on December 19, 2024

What if we could anticipate - and solve - construction problems before building our homes?
The Protobuilding Research Programme at the University of Pretoria (UP) is reimagining how we design and construct homes, offering innovative solutions to address critical challenges like rapid urbanisation and affordable housing.
By bridging traditional design methods with cutting-edge digital design and manufacturing, protobuilding will simplify how we work and live. It prioritises functionality, sustainability, and productivity through continuous experimentation and learning.
Led by Dr Schalk Grobbelaar, Senior Lecturer and Chairperson of the York Timbers Chair in Wood Structural Engineering, the programme takes a transdisciplinary approach: Teams from architecture, engineering, marketing, and more tackle real-world challenges. A "design, build, review, repeat" model ensures solutions evolve. This process-driven philosophy will not just build homes but foster sustainable communities aligned with UN SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
As Dr Grobbelaar puts it: "Through systems thinking and collaboration, we’re creating a beacon of hope for the built environment—one that prioritises sustainability, adaptability, and prosperity for all."
 

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