The demonstration project as a tool for introduction of sustainable low cost housing – some experiences from Ethiopia

One of many serious problems in Ethiopia today is the rapid pace of deforestation. This accelerates fire-wood shortage and put a high stress on the natural resources including timber for construction. Based on the assumption that low cost housing based on soil is an economically viable and environmentally sound choice, a research programme at Halmstad University was initiated in 2004. This research, aiming at the Kambaata Region in Southern Ethiopia, has focused on the introduction of adobe technology and cement stabilised soil block technology. A final stage of this research programme is to erect demonstration buildings. Its objective is to demonstrate new building technologies and to use the demonstration buildings as reference objects in studies regarding building technique and attitudes towards these new technologies. This paper is focused on the role of demonstration projects at the introduction of sustainable low cost housing. As an introductory background some executed demonstration projects are described and their impact is analysed. Against this background, a currently executed demonstration project is described