Green roofs and earth blocks help improve low-cost housing in Mozambique

Read the original version in Portuguese here.

Published on July 04, 2026

An affordable, eco-friendly housing research project is being developed in Maputo, the capital of Mozambique, one of the poorest countries in the world. Named "Casas Melhoradas" (Improved Houses), the project is a partnership between the KADK (Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts) School of Architecture, the Mozambican NGO Estamos, and Architects Without Borders. The goal is to develop low-cost, dignified housing with minimal environmental impact.

According to the project's website, there are three primary areas of focus. The first is to develop alternative construction methods to improve housing quality and reduce costs; the second aims to design housing typologies that use space and infrastructure more efficiently to foster more sustainable urban development; and finally, to encourage the construction of affordable rental housing through public-private partnerships to scale up the project's impact.

In addition to addressing gaps in the capital's growing infrastructure, the project boosts the local economy by using compressed earth and concrete blocks produced in Maputo's informal settlements. The homes were built in collaboration with local builders, who tested the housing models, techniques, and construction methods.

Green roofs and earth blocks help improve low-cost housing in Mozambique - Image 2 of 6 — © Casas Melhoradas

Casas Melhoradas

The two-story building was designed to optimize space efficiently, respect local socioeconomic and cultural conditions, and adapt the space to comfortably accommodate six families where only one would originally live. Each home features a private outdoor kitchen equipped with a gas stove—to counter the widespread use of charcoal in the region and reduce air pollution—as well as shared courtyards with access to shared bathrooms and laundry facilities. In addition, a green roof was installed to improve thermal comfort within the home.

The "Casas Melhoradas" are rented out through a local non-profit organization that reinvests the rental income into new housing projects. Currently, the project is seeking partners, donors, and investors for future collaborations.