Rise in the City, the international architecture competition for students and recent graduates, has issued the design brief for its 2018 competition.
The challenge is to design affordable and sustainable housing in Lesotho, the landlocked kingdom surrounded by South Africa whose housing problem is challenged by increased urban migration, climate change and a scarcity of resources.
The competition organizers, rise International, are collaborating with BOND events, Lesotho’s Ministry of Local Government, Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Habitat for Humanity, UNDP, Alliance Francaise and various academic institutions to contribute to solve the housing problem as stipulated in the country’s National Housing Policy.
The challenge is to design a two bedroom, 1-bath house with a living and eating area that would be affordable for a family with a combined annual income of LSL 24,000 [US $1,694.37]. The total house cost should fall under LSL50,000 [US $3,528. 00]
The winning designs will be submitted to the Government of Lesotho for the potential construction of a prototype, if enough money is raised from the competition.
Shortlisted designs will also be displayed at an exhibit in Maseru, Lesotho, in January 2019 and made available to the public as samples of good designs from which they can build their homes.
Full details of the competition are at www.riseinthecity.com
