“Transforming Housing Environments”
Delegates from over 30 countries will be represented from all continents of the globe to deliberate on “Housing for All” and the “Transformation of Housing Environments through Design”.
“Housing the peoples of the world will be under the spotlight, said Professor Andre de Villiers, coordinator of the congress. Housing is vital for not only living but represents and offers opportunities for social and economic benefits to individuals, families and communities” he added. We believe the conference will be useful for people from all works of life and professions because of this important. Politicians, Developers, Built environment and Planning Professions and society at large are welcome to attend. It brings together all the intellectual and practical disciplines to find realistic solutions for quality housing environments.””
The Minister of Housing Dr. Lindiwe Sisulu, will officially open the Congress on the 27th Sept. Other prominent speakers include:
Prof. Nabeel Hamdi, Director of Housing and Urban Development at Oxford Brooks University, UK and author of the books, “Housing Without Houses” and “Small Change”;
Prof. David Dewar, University of Cape Town, well known throughout Southern Africa as award winning architect and urban designer exploring solutions to the critical housing dilemmas of Southern Africa;
Dr. Michael Majale, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK who focuses on improving the living conditions and livelihoods of the urban poor living in informal settlements;
Ted Baumann, Principal, Bay Research and Consultancy Services, Cape Town on micro-financing for housing.The programme will comprise of workshops which kick off on the 26 September and a congress which starts on the 27th up to 30th September 2005.The workshops will focus on the challenges of housing in the context of massive poverty, unemployment and hunger that prevails world wide. Themes to be covered include: slum free cities - myth or possibility; overcoming architectural apartheid - accessible residential design; breaking new ground – partnerships to implement new housing policy; and housing design.Practical case studies of South African housing development “best practice” such as those of the Masisizane Women’s Housing Cooperative from Ivory Park, Tembisa will also be featured. They tell the story of tackling the housing shortage and beating it through the medium of song and dance.
This is 33rd annual congress of the International Association for Housing Science held each year in different parts of the world. This year finds the congress in South Africa with its unique focus on transformation of housing through design. The eyes of the world are on South Africa with its many initiatives in transformation and development. While much of the housing debate in Africa revolves around the delivery of housing units and financing, this congress brings an added issue to the fore – the quality of life in housing environments. It goes beyond the individual family house to the neglected spaces between houses and to complete multi-functional habitats with needed amenities and services.
