NRF-SAASTA implements the Science Shop research project on co–designing housing futures with Melusi informal settlement

The International Union of Architects (UIA) has recognised the contribution of the Science Shop project in ensuring access to safe, adequate and affordable housing through participatory design, research and advocacy. The Science Shop participatory research project, titled “Co-Creating Wellness and Dignity”, is hosted by the University of Pretoria (UP) and led by Professor Carin Combrink from the Architecture Department. The recognition is part of the annual World Architecture Day, which draws attention to the collective responsibility that architects hold in shaping sustainable, inclusive, and resilient environments. The annual observance is a reminder that housing is not just a shelter but a foundation of dignity, health, and belonging, and the starting point for thriving communities. NRF-SAASTA is the implementing agency for the science shop community-based participatory research projects hosted by local public universities and funded by the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI).

The UIA, in partnership with Member Sections, including the South African Institute of Architects, shared architectural initiatives across the world that are aligned with the 2026 theme titled “Housing is a Human Right. Build It”. The UP-science shop project is a recognition of the vital role that architects in South Africa play in ensuring that housing as a right is a reality, especially in the context of the socio-spatial inequities of apartheid.

The transdisciplinary project recently brought together architectural academics, students and residents from the Melusi informal settlement to imagine and build housing futures. In this collaboration, honours students and community members co-design housing solutions that are contextually responsive and that address the living realities in the informal settlement. The proposals that emerged from this collaboration were informed by local community knowledge, circular construction principles, design for disassembly and timber-based construction systems. To enrich the process, civil engineering researchers involved in the World Universities Network grant offered lectures and technical expertise.

The process moved beyond the conceptual design to practical implementation with a two-day workshop and a five-day prototyping camp that brought together honours architecture students, community members and final-year civil engineering students. Together, they constructed, tested, and refined full-scale building components, including floor and foundation systems, wall assemblies, roofing and mezzanine structures. The project demonstrates the potential of combining collaborative design, technical investigation, and hands-on prototyping to develop adaptable, practical, and sustainable housing solutions. At its core is an inclusive approach to housing development that values community participation and prioritises building with communities rather than for them.

Co-creating wellness and human dignity in Melusi informal settlement

The University of Pretoria science shop project titled “Co-Creating Wellness and Human Dignity” is aimed at understanding the challenges and strengths of the communities of Melusi informal settlements through participatory action research. The increasing number of informal settlements in South Africa is an indicator of the vast imbalances and a systemic failure within the city. The 3-year study focuses on co-creating wellness and human dignity in informal settlements. The purpose of this study is to document and map the community services, buildings, and environment and to understand living conditions in these communities and how this affects health and well-being.

PHASE I: RESEARCH QUESTIONNAIRE

During March 2023, the researchers mapped the informal settlements and conducted voluntary questionnaires across these disciplines: Architecture, Engineering, Health Sciences, Social Entrepreneurship and Leadership Studies within the communities of Melusi and Woodlane Village informal settlements. The findings were presented to the communities and stakeholders to enable the development of action plans in the future.

PHASE II: COMMUNITY STORIES

This phase involved a human needs analysis that involves identifying, understanding, and prioritising the fundamental needs of individuals and communities, recognising their interconnections, and using this understanding to guide development efforts towards promoting well-being and health.

Phase III: COMMUNITY ACTION PLANS

The last phase of the project focused on the critical analysis of datasets emanating from the research undertaken during 2023 and 2024 towards co-creating Community Action Plans to address socio-spatial justice with the community of Melusi. Continued engagement with the research partners underpins the project, so that the research outcomes may reflect the views and voices of this emerging urban society.