Community-Led Climate-Responsive Social Infrastructure: Reframing Low-Carbon Construction in the Global South
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70917/jcc-2026-020Keywords:
Low-Carbon Construction, Circular Economy, Passive Design, Community-Led Infrastructure, Climate -Response Architecture, Post-Natural BuildingAbstract
The construction sector accounts for a substantial share of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet many low-carbon building approaches remain inaccessible in resource-constrained settings because they depend on capital-intensive technologies and formal supply chains. This study examines how community-led construction can contribute to climate-responsive infrastructure through the integration of material reuse, passive environmental design and collective action. Using a qualitative case study of the Ulwazi Educare Centre in Delft, Cape Town, the research draws on 45 semi-structured interviews, field observations, project documents and photographs to explore the environmental, social and institutional dimensions of an alternative construction approach. The findings show that discarded tyres and other locally available materials were reconfigured into durable community infrastructure through participatory construction. Participants consistently associated the building with improved thermal comfort, reduced reliance on mechanical heating and cooling, opportunities for skills development, employment and collective ownership. The study interprets these findings through the lens of post-natural building, an analytical framework that explains how climate-responsive infrastructure can emerge from the interaction of material reuse, passive environmental design, and collective labour in resource-constrained contexts. The study also identifies important constraints to the wider adoption of community-led climate-responsive infrastructure. While participants perceived environmental and social benefits, scaling such approaches depends on organisational capacity, professional expertise and institutional legitimacy. The findings are based on qualitative evidence and do not quantify thermal performance or embodied carbon, highlighting the need for complementary engineering assessments. By integrating environmental, social and institutional dimensions, the study contributes a socio-technical perspective on low-carbon construction and expands debates on climate-responsive infrastructure in the Global South.
References
Adams, K.T., Osmani, M., Thorpe, T. & Thornback, J. (2017). Circular economy in construction: Current awareness, challenges and enablers. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers: Waste and Resource Management, 170(1), pp.15–24. https://doi.org/10.1680/jwarm.16.00011
Agyeman, J., Schlosberg, D., Craven, L. & Matthews, C. (2016). Trends and directions in environmental justice: From inequity to everyday life, community, and just sustainabilities. Annual Review of Environment and Resources, 41, pp.321–340. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-environ-110615-090052
Agyenim, F.B., Armoo, E.A., Antwi, B.Y., Mohammed, L., Nsiah-Gyambibi, R., Mohammed, M. et al. (2026). Zero Waste Disposal (ZeWaD): A Case Study with Economic Assessment. Green Technology & Innovation, 2(1), pp. 297–313. Available at: https://doi.org/10.65582/gti.2026.015. Accessed: 13 August 2026.
Apotsos, M. & Venter, A. (2020). Post-Natural Building and Eco-Vernacular Architecture in Contemporary South Africa. In: de Jager, P. (ed.), The Sustainability Handbook, Chapter 9, pp. 138–151. Cape Town: Alive2Green. Available at: https://researchspace.csir.co.za/server/api/core/bitstreams/14897f9a-446b-4dc8-abf6-9f7c87608d15/content. Accessed: 13 August 2026.
Braun, V. & Clarke, V. (2006). 'Using thematic analysis in psychology', Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), pp. 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Braun, V. & Clarke, V. (2021). Thematic Analysis: A Practical Guide. SAGE. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781036232078.n9.
Braun, V., Clarke, V., Hayfield, N. and Terry, G., (2024). Thematic Analysis. In Advanced Research Methods for Applied Psychology (pp. 238–248). Routledge.https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003362715-21.
Bronner, S.J. (2006). 'Building tradition: Control and authority in vernacular architecture', in Asquith, L. and Vellinga, M. (eds.) Vernacular Architecture in the Twenty-First Century. London: Taylor & Francis, pp. 23–45.https://doi.org/10.5810/kentucky/9780813134062.003.0004.
Bullen, P.A. & Love, P.E.D. (2011). 'Adaptive reuse of heritage buildings', Structural Survey, 29(5), pp. 411–421.https://doi.org/10.1108/02630801111182439.
Cirolia, L.R. & Scheba, S. (2019). Towards a multi-scalar reading of informality in Delft, South Africa: Weaving the ‘everyday’ with wider structural tracings. Urban Studies, 56(3), pp. 594–611. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/0042098017753326. Accessed: 13 August 2026.
Connolly, P., & Wigle, J. (2017). (Re) constructing informality and “doing regularisation” in the conservation zone of Mexico City. Planning Theory & Practice, 18(2), 183–201.https://doi.org/10.1080/14649357.2017.1279678.
Creswell, J.W. & Poth, C.N. (2018). Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches. 4th edn. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE. Available at: sagepub.com.
De Dear, R. & Brager, G.S. (2002). 'Thermal comfort in naturally ventilated buildings: Revisions to ASHRAE Standard 55', Energy and Buildings, 34(6), pp. 549–561. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-7788(02)00005-1
Fernandes, E. (2011). Regularization of Informal Settlements in Latin America. Cambridge, MA: Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. Available at: https://www.lincolninst.edu/publications/policy-focus-reports/regularization-informal-settlements-in-latin-america/. Accessed: 13 August 2026.
Flyvbjerg, B. (2006). 'Five misunderstandings about case-study research', Qualitative Inquiry, 12(2), pp. 219–245. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077800405284363
Geissdoerfer, M., Savaget, P., Bocken, N. M. P., & Hultink, E. J. (2017). The circular economy - A new sustainability paradigm? Journal of Cleaner Production, 143, 757–768.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.12.048.
Givoni, B. (1998). Climate Considerations in Building and Urban Design. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
Habert, G., Miller, S. A., John, V. M., Provis, J. L., Favier, A., Horvath, A., & Scrivener, K. L. (2020). Environmental impacts and decarbonization strategies in the cement and concrete industries. Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, 1(11), 559-573.https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-020-0093-3.
Hamdi, N. (2010). The Placemaker's Guide to Building Community. London: Earthscan. Available at: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781849775175. Accessed: 13 August 2026.
Cabeza, L.F., Bai, Q., Bertoldi, P., Kihila, J.M., Lucena, A.F.P., Mata, É., Mirasgedis, S., Novikova, A. & Saheb, Y. (2022). Buildings. In: Shukla, P.R. et al. (eds.) Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change. Contribution of Working Group III to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009157926.011. Accessed: 13 August 2026.
International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and UN Climate Change High-Level Champions (2023). Breakthrough Agenda Report 2023. Paris: International Energy Agency. Available at: https://www.iea.org/reports/breakthrough-agenda-report-2023. Accessed: 23 July 2026.
Kvale, S. & Brinkmann, S. (2009). InterViews: Learning the Craft of Qualitative Research Interviewing. 2nd ed. Los Angeles: Sage. Available at: https://archive.org/details/interviewslearni0000kval. Accessed: 13 August 2026.
Lombard, M. (2014). Constructing ordinary places: Place-making in urban informal settlements in Mexico. Progress in Planning, 94, pp. 1–53. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.progress.2013.05.003. Accessed: 13 August 2026.
Malik, A., Mbewe, P.B.K., Kavishe, N., Mkandawire, T. and Adetoro, P. (2024). Sustainable Construction Practices in Building Infrastructure Projects: The Extent of Implementation and Drivers in Malawi. Sustainability, 16(24), 10825. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/su162410825. Accessed: 13 August 2026.
Mang, P. & Reed, B. (2012). 'Designing from place: A regenerative framework and methodology', Building Research & Information, 40(1), pp. 23–38. https://doi.org/10.1080/09613218.2012.621341
Manshour, S., & Lehmann, S. (2026). A systematic review of passive cooling strategies integrating traditional wisdom and modern innovations for sustainable development in arid urban environments. Discover Cities, 3(1), 42. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44327-026-00204-4.
Milad, A. (2025). Recycled and upcycled materials in contemporary architecture and civil engineering: Their applications, benefits, and challenges. Cleaner Waste Systems, 10, p.100203.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clwas.2025.100203.
Mitlin, D. & Satterthwaite, D. (2013). Urban Poverty in the Global South: Scale and Nature. Abingdon: Routledge. Available at: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203104316. Accessed: 13 August 2026.
Mohajerani, A., Burnett, L., Smith, J.V., Markovski, S., Rodwell, G., Rahman, M.T., Kurmus, H., Mirzababaei, M., Arulrajah, A., Horpibulsuk, S., & Maghool, F. (2021). 'Recycling waste rubber tyres in construction materials and associated environmental considerations: A review', Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 155, 104679. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2020.104679.
Mukiga, A.K. (2026). Community-Led regenerative design in South Africa: the case of tyre building in Cape Town. Local Environment, 1–25. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/13549839.2026.2677077. Accessed: 13 August 2026.
Mukiga, A.K. & Venter, A. (2025). Exploring natural building practice (NBP) and regenerative models in the climate crisis: The case of Ulwazi Educare tyre building, Delft, Cape Town. Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering, pp. 1–18. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/13467581.2025.2584645. Accessed: 13 August 2026.
Natural Building Collective (Pty) Ltd. (2026). Fire Resistance Test Report: Load-Bearing Rammed Earth Tyre Wall with Cob and Lime Plaster. Report No. 2026-02-10 NBC. Cape Town: Ignis Testing (Pty) Ltd. Available at: https://www.naturalbuildingcollective.com/fire-resistance-test-rammed-earth-tyre-wall-achieves-120-minute-certified-rating/. Accessed: 13 August 2026.
Oliver, P. (2006). Built to Meet Needs: Cultural Issues in Vernacular Architecture. Oxford: Architectural Press. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780080476308.
Paschich, E. & Hendricks, P. (1995). The Tire House Book. Santa Fe, NM: Sunstone Press. Available at: https://www.sunstonepress.com/cgi-bin/bookview.cgi?_category=Reference&_fn=Printable. Accessed: 13 August 2026.
Patton, M.Q. (2015). Qualitative Research & Evaluation Methods: Integrating Theory and Practice. 4th ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc. Available at: https://www.sagepub.com/shop/buy-a-book/qualitative-research-evaluation-methods-4-232962. Accessed: 13 August 2026.
Pomponi, F. and Moncaster, A. (2016). Embodied carbon mitigation and reduction in the built environment – What does the evidence say?. Journal of Environmental Management, 181, pp.231–241. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2016.08.036.
Rafi, M., Poloju, K. K., Tarin, M., & Hussain, A. N. (2025). Low-Carbon Concrete: A Comprehensive Review of Strategies for Reducing the Construction Industry’s Environmental Impact. Journal of Building Material Science, 7(4), 162–179. https://doi.org/10.30564/jbms.v7i4.12043.
Rajendran, L., Odeleye, N. D., & Can, A. (2026). Informality, resilience, and dialogue: Towards an alternative southern framework. In Resilient Cities in the Global South (pp. 1–12). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003336709-1.
Riffat, S., Kutlu, C., Pastakkaya, B., Riffat, J., Reddy, K. S., Zhang, S., & Chen, Z. (2026). Advancing Global Pathways to Net Zero. Global Decarbonisation, 2(1), 1–3. https://doi.org/10.65582/gd.2026.001.
Riffat, S., Zhao, X., Calautit, J., Omer, S., Riffat, J., Shakir, M. A., & Ahmad, M. I. (2025). Advancing Research and Practice in Sustainability. Research and Reviews in Sustainability, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.65582/rrs.2026.001.
Ruchit, P. & Charles, S. (2024). Eco-friendly urban design: An analysis of sustainable building practices and their community impact. World J Adv Res Rev, 23, pp.2857–64.https://doi.org/10.30574/wjarr.2024.23.3.2901.
Ryan, C. (2011). Traditional Construction for a Sustainable Future. 1st ed. London: Routledge. Available at: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203895504. Accessed: 13 August 2026.
Saikat, S. A., M. G. G. Khan, & H. G. Morshed. (2019). “Investigation of Mechanical Properties of Plastic Bottle Brick.” Saudi Journal of Engineering and Technology 4 (11): 452–456. https://doi.org/10.36348/sjeat.2019. v04i11.002.
Salauddin, M., & Piracha, A. (2024). Missing People and Places: Slum and Poor Settlements Research in South Asia. South Asian Survey, 31(1), 85–101.https://doi.org/10.1177/09715231241264402.
Santamouris, M. (2016). Cooling the cities - A review of reflective and green roof mitigation technologies. Solar Energy, 103, 682–703.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2012.07.003.
Scott, M.M. (2007). Westernization in Sub-Saharan Africa: Facing Loss of Culture, Knowledge, and Environment. Master of Architecture thesis. Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana. Available at: https://scholarworks.montana.edu/xmlui/handle/1/2230. Accessed: 13 August 2026.
Swilling, M., Musango, J., & Wakeford, J. (2016). Developmental states and sustainability transitions. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 20, 30–41.https://doi.org/10.1080/1523908X.2015.1107716.
Szokolay, S. V. (2012). Introduction to architectural science: The basis of sustainable design (3rd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315852409.
Turner, J.F.C. (1976). Housing by People: Towards Autonomy in Building Environments. London: Marion Boyars. Available at: https://books.google.com/books?id=o_Rs2qOvfeIC. Accessed: 13 August 2026.
UN-Habitat (2022). World Cities Report 2022: Envisaging the Future of Cities. Nairobi: United Nations Human Settlements Programme. Available at: https://unhabitat.org/world-cities-report-2022-envisaging-the-future-of-cities. Accessed: 13 August 2026.
UN-Habitat (2026). World Cities Report 2026: The Global Housing Crisis: Pathways to Action. Nairobi: United Nations Human Settlements Programme. Available at: https://unhabitat.org/world-cities-report-2026. Accessed: 23 July 2026.
UNICEF (2026). The Children's Climate Risk Report 2026. New York: United Nations Children's Fund. Available at: https://www.unicef.org/reports/childrens-climate-risk-report-2026 (Accessed: 23 July 2026).
United Nations Environment Programme (2023). Building Materials and the Climate: Constructing a New Future. Nairobi.https://doi.org/10.59117/20.500.11822/43293.
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) (2022). 2022 Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction: Towards a Zero-Emission, Efficient and Resilient Buildings and Construction Sector. Nairobi: United Nations Environment Programme. Available at: https://www.unep.org/resources/publication/2022-global-status-report-buildings-and-construction. Accessed: 13 August 2026.
Venter, A., Marais, L. & Morgan, H. (2019). Informal settlement upgrading in South Africa: A preliminary regenerative perspective. Sustainability, 11(9), 2685. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/su11092685. Accessed: 13 August 2026.
Watson, V. (2009). Seeing from the South: Refocusing Urban Planning on the Globe’s Central Urban Issues. Urban Studies, 46(11), pp. 2259–2275. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/0042098009342598. Accessed: 13 August 2026.
Xu, Y., Freney, M., Hassanli, R., Zhuge, Y., Rahman, M.M. & Karim, M.R. (2022). Experimental study on the structural performance of full-scale tyre wall for residential housing applications. Engineering Structures, 259, p.114181.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2022.114181.
Yin, R.K. (2018). Case Study Research and Applications: Design and Methods. 6th ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications. Available at: https://collegepublishing.sagepub.com/products/case-study-research-and-applications-6-250150. Accessed: 13 August 2026.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Alex Kihehere Mukiga (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
