Solar community bakery A4AC ARCHITECTS

A bakery for the Emtongeni Community Centre in Zandspruit, Johannesburg

Bread building

Local materials Timber palettes were sourced from the community and used as shading devices.	Lightweight steel construction The building frame consisted of lightweight steel and was constructed within a day.	Materials Materials used consisted of lightweight steel, timber cladding, corrugated iron and polycarbonate sheeting.
Community involvement Bottle bricks were manufactured by the community to construct some of the walls.	The bottle bricks Different colours of beer bottles were sourced from the community in order to create a colourful bottle brick wall.	Locally manufactured Community members were trained to manufacture the bricks on site.
Shading device Timber palettes set in a lightweight steel frame were attached to the building facade to create a shading device.	Interior space The interior of the building consisted of an exposed lightweight steel truss, a timber ceiling and timber cladded walls.	The oven The building was designed to accommodate a solar oven for the purpose of baking bread.
The launch The media, funders and all other involved parties attended the launch of the building.	The Architects

Involving and empowering the community of Zandspruit

The project was done in association with Bread Companions and Sesego Cares for the Emtongeni Community Center in Zandspruit. The aim of the project was to empower community members with a business opportunity by providing them with a sustainable bakery.

In order to educate the community on alternative construction methods and to create a greater sense of ownership, the Zandspruit community was involved in the construction process. A bottle brick wall was therefore incorporated into the design, also acting as a security device. Community members were responsible for the collection of bottles and the production of the bottle bricks.

Within a very limited budget, the building was designed from lightweight materials based on the principals of enhanced natural light and ventilation.

Bread building

Local materials

Timber palettes were sourced from the community and used as shading devices.

Lightweight steel construction

The building frame consisted of lightweight steel and was constructed within a day.

Materials

Materials used consisted of lightweight steel, timber cladding, corrugated iron and polycarbonate sheeting.

Community involvement

Bottle bricks were manufactured by the community to construct some of the walls.

The bottle bricks

Different colours of beer bottles were sourced from the community in order to create a colourful bottle brick wall.

Locally manufactured

Community members were trained to manufacture the bricks on site.

Shading device

Timber palettes set in a lightweight steel frame were attached to the building facade to create a shading device.

Interior space

The interior of the building consisted of an exposed lightweight steel truss, a timber ceiling and timber cladded walls.

The oven

The building was designed to accommodate a solar oven for the purpose of baking bread.

The launch

The media, funders and all other involved parties attended the launch of the building.

The Architects

Involving and empowering the community of Zandspruit