THE HABITAT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTRE, NAMIBIA: LESSONS IN BUILDING SUSTAINABLY IN A DEVELOPING COUNTRY

摘要

This presentation describes a "solar" project in Namibia, a developing country. The Habitat Research and Development Centre (HRDC) is a government-parastatal partnership to establish a centre for research into sustainable housing. The design aims to initiate and demonstrate the activities of the centre in its construction. It opens with an overview of the Namibian context for an unfamiliar audience and then discusses the three main strategies to achieve this aim 1. Passive solar design principles. 2. Renewable energy, mainly solar (low-tech building-integrated photo-voltaics and grid in-feeding). 3. Low-cost, local and environmentally appropriate materials referring to embodied energy aspects (low-cost labour-intensive, recycled materials). The practical results of the above strategies is reviewed, as construction is nearing completion. The design as a hybrid approach rather than a single statement is assessed. The conclusion evaluates less tangible effects on the community. It is the first time in Namibia that such a comprehensive attempt at sustainable building has been made.