Affordable clay brick construction for Bothasig Gardens Social Housing Project
The Communicare Bothasig Gardens Project built in double skin clay brick with the Roklite plaster bricks internally and Corobrik face brick externally has been recognised for setting new standards for affordable integrated settlements in South Africa.
Bothasig Gardens, which is fully tenanted, comprises 120 new apartments on a 2.5ha site in the heart of Bothasig. The apartments are in six separate double-storey face brick buildings and are surrounded by landscaped open spaces with accommodation at a monthly rental that starts as low as R650.
With affordable built and low lifecycle costs key requirements, clay brick construction with face brick provided the answer, the maintenance free qualities set to support a lowest lifecycle cost outcome. Warm enduring colours and textures and human scale of face bricks add the finer elements to this projects sustainability equation importantly meeting the aspirations of the intended occupants to live in clay brick dwellings.
Fulfilled developer's mandate
This project has fulfilled the developer's mandate, going beyond just providing a roof over people's heads to address, improve, and upgrade the surrounding communities, creating opportunities that compliment long term socio-economic integration. Accommodation of a very high quality offered at rentals that are lower than those generally applied in Bothasig and Edgemead define the Bothasig Gardens substantive value offering.
Commenting on the quality of the development, Minister Sexwale reportedly pointed out that, the Bothasig Gardens was "an asset to the community and will play a critical role in increasing property values in the Bothasig area." These face brick apartments debunk the myth that social housing has to be of a lower standard providing an example of how large scale, affordable rental accommodation, can create a focus of excellence in a community.
Christie van Niekerk, Corobrik Cape manager, in summing up Corobrik's involvement with the project said, "Bothasig Gardens presents a great example of what can be achieved cost effectively in clay brick, the face bricks mitigating future maintenance costs being placed on communities least able to shoulder such a burden, and through that enhancing the lifetime value equation of the project. It has been a pleasure to have the Corobrik brand associated with the high standards achieved at Bothasig Gardens".
