Urban & Landscape Design
Studio

Employee Housing Master Plan, Darwendale, Zimbabwe  I

 

Project Area: 234.03 Ha. / 2.34 sq.km

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Worked with Khatib & Alami, this project was a greenfield project, a permanent housing policy and scheme was to be established to accommodate the mine employees. The intended housing solution for the employees was subject to an elaborate feasibility study, which will allow GDI (employer) to determine the most viable development scenario in terms of financial viability and design.

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The goal of the project was to achieve a sustainable and affordable housing solution to categories of the working population of the mine.

 

The vision was “To develop affordable permanent housing solution aligned to GDI’s social responsibility principles and foster the communities housed to diversify and develop so that even after the mining period is over, the entire project continues to thrive and be sustainable.”
 

The project aimed at the larger welfare of the employees keeping the view that a better housed workforce includes greater labor stability and improved productivity. The project was highly beneficial to the working group, which cannot access a satisfactory housing solution due to the severe supply and affordability gaps affecting the housing sector in the region.

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The project had the following objectives:

• Developing a viable financing scheme and valid operating structure and funding model for the projects

• Selecting the optimal site and site development strategy for the project;

• Balancing affordability, rates of return while keeping diversity of design.

• Advising on way forward for the next steps of the construction.

 

 

The main scope work:

Concept master plan

• Land use distribution

• Parcellation plan and development mix of various residential typologies.

• Detailed development matrix and area statements

• Road network design

• Open space network hierarchy

• Rendered public plot schemes in illustrative master plan

• Provision of social facilities and other amenities

 

Concept design for building prototypes and
concept design for Infrastructure with respect to;

• Portable water needs including irrigation and fire fighting

• Sewage effluent management

• Solid waste management

• Electrical power requirements

• Telecommunication and other requirements

• Road Design 

 

Cost Estimation

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Phasing and implementation

 

Financial feasibility

Vision approach and methodology adopted
 

Detailed master plan consisting of 

• Approach

• Land use distribution & Plot parcellation

• Massing

• Community facilities distribution

• Road Hierarchies & Street-scape

• Circulation Plan

• Open space distribution

• Development matrix

 

Architectural narratives consisting of,

• GFA allocation

• Residential Typologies 

• Housing typology options with architectural details and design determinants

• Alternate construction technologies and a comparison study of the same

 

Design criteria, demand assessment and concept level network drawings and onsite requirement identification for all wet and dry utilities including potable water, irrigation, firefighting, sewerage, stormwater, solid waste management, power distribution and road design. 
 

Phasing of development 
 

Feasibility analysis consisting of,

• Recommendations from review of the National and Company specific Housing Policies

• GDI’s Employee Accommodation Policy

• Operating Structure

• Positioning Strategy

• Pricing Strategy

• Financial Viability of the Project

 

Way forward