For the full published paper, click here This paper presents a case study of a low carbon affordable building in South Africa, utilizing innovative biomass concrete for bricks, funicular floor and roof modules that are […]
Strength through Geometry and Material Effectiveness – the nonCrete Vaulted Indlovu Roof System
Indlovu /íⁿɮʱoːvu/ (noun, meaning Mighty Elephant in Xhosa; honorific title for Zulu kings) The Indlovu Floor is a rib-stiffened discrete funicular shell prefabricated with an unreinforced lightweight biomass concrete mix containing wood fibres from invasive […]
Curved-crease un-foldable formwork for sustainable vaulted floors in Cape Town
Unfold Form is a lightweight, compact, reusable formwork system that rapidly deploys a fan-like, corrugated, self-supporting formwork through curved-crease un-folding. It enables the construction of thin vaulted floors in unreinforced concrete. Introduction Unfold Form is […]
Cape Town-based nonCrete, partners offer fire-resistant building solutions
The Los Angeles fire disaster and the many devastating fires we regularly experience in South Africa are a powerful reminder of the need for fire-resistant building materials and methods across the housing and building spectrum, […]
Alien Invasive Biomass to Housing through Co-Design in South Africa
Millions of people are still awaiting their government-funded homes, and developing affordable, sustainable, dignified housing in South Africa remains an unrelenting need. Addressing this is a highly innovative collaboration between the Cape Town-based company nonCrete; […]
Invasive alien plants as an alternative resource for concrete production
Today’s cities are ever-growing, especially in the Global South, inducing massive construction activity. To satisfy these needs we need feasible and environmentally sustainable construction materials, the use of local solutions and, if possible, to enable […]
Kruger National Park “Eco-Lodge” – a low-carbon demonstrator model
Located on the banks of the Sabie River, a demonstration tourist accommodation unit is being planned for construction in the Kruger National Park on the footprint of an existing dilapidated timber structure. The “Tree House” […]
Hand Woven Formwork
This research project is an offshoot of the development of the funicular flooring system which proposes to replace conventional shuttering with traditional woven mats when casting arched floor slabs. The beautiful, subtle patterned renders of […]
Developing low-cement binders with invasive wood chip aggregate
The mechanically chipped biomass of water-thirsty Invading Alien Plants (IAP’s) to replace conventional aggregates is but one of several examples currently being researched and developed by nonCrete.com A recent paper emanating from the Chair of […]