Bamblock Sustainable and Modular Housing Solution

The Bamblock solution is designed to support housing climate adaptation and resilience to extreme weather and climate events, at both urban and rural levels. Across the globe, communities are being affected by the consequences of climate change, experiencing housing loss and climate diaspora from floods, drought, storm surges, rising sea levels, and more. According to UNHCR, 23 million people are displaced from their homes each year due to the effects of climate change. We believe our solution is equipped to address both temporary and permanent housing insecurity through a low cost, sustainable and modular house design. We intend to advance global SDGs to support the growth of sustainable cities and communities, but in order to achieve this we must first scale up from an initial project. 

The first country where we aim to deploy this solution and serve is Uganda. Uganda experiences climate induced droughts, rainfall, floods, landslides and other weather related events that threaten the livelihoods and socio-economic development of communities. According to the World Bank, unless the country implements more robust climate action policies, 11% of Uganda’s population (12 million people) will be forced to move within the country by 2050 due to climate related events. Additionally, Uganda faces an existing housing crisis due to a growing population paired with lack of affordable housing, currently sitting at a 2.4 million housing deficit. This housing crisis will only be further exacerbated by climate change.

This project empowers underrepresented populations in Uganda by creating resilience based support for these climate vulnerable communities. This solution can be built by the average person with the support of our digitally twinned assembly guide, making house building accessible to broader populations. We believe that our low-cost, rapid construction house can support these vulnerable populations by quickly getting communities into safe and affordable housing. Using prefabricated building blocks and local materials, this solution is designed to minimize material, energy, and time required for construction which reduces costs. Additionally, this product builds resilience by supporting regional bamboo supply chains, bolstering the local economy and job opportunities. By providing a mono-material, complete modular home (roof, floor, and walls) that can be assembled by the average person, we create a more sustainable housing model that can be implemented across the country in both urban and rural areas.  

In the wake of climate change, Uganda has been prone to floods, landslides, environmental degradation and other climate events that create housing displacement. These events create extreme vulnerability, causing long term impacts on health and quality of life. At a global level, predictions suggest that there could be up to 1.2 billion climate refugees by 2050. This type of human migration will create a need for residential home construction models that can be completed fast and efficiently at a reasonable cost. With this low-cost and carbon-negative rapid construction method, we believe that Bamblock can be a catalyst for housing relief across Uganda, and eventually other countries, helping communities get into safe and affordable housing fast.

In response to climate change exacerbating housing insecurity, Envisioning Labs has partnered up with BKVV Architecten to deploy our low-cost, carbon-negative, modular housing construction system in Uganda, Africa. The Bamblock system is a building method based on prefabricated stackable and interlocking blocks. Bamblock is specifically designed to build an entire home envelope (floors, walls and roofs) using a novel connecting mechanism. Additionally, Bamblock houses can be combined with other construction methods, such as concrete foundations or steel screw piles for easy, low cost, yet strong and modular ground anchoring. Bamblock modules feature different designs for varying panel thickness, as well as internal cavities to accommodate insulation, plumbing and electrical services. 

Although stacking blocks are becoming a more popular construction technique, problems remain such as lack of strength if simply stacked for a wall, and non-modular construction still required for floors and roofs. Bamblock overcomes these problems by using structural tendons (tensioning rods) to hold interlocked blocks together in panels that provide the strength for floors and roofs in a similar modular way. Walls require only vertical tendons to hold wall blocks, connected to roof and floor panels, all together. Floor and roof panels run right-angled tendons through spaces in the blocks or “cavities”, enabling flat, load carrying capability. Using a tensile rod tendon system, Individual blocks are strengthened into panels, allowing panels to be laid flat and support load on their flat surface as floors and roofs. Corner, tee, and cross-intersection block variations enable all interior and exterior walls.

Bamblock is designed to use engineered bamboo as it is known to contribute to carbon sequestration. Bamboo is a durable and strong material, known for its impressive tensile strength, and intensive CO2 absorption. For this project, we will work with local Ugandan bamboo harvesters and manufacturers to source the engineered bamboo for the modular blocks. Bamblock construction is designed to be assembled on-site which supports rapid building and reconfiguration opportunities. By creating a solution that can be constructed by the average lay-person, we create opportunities to create fast, efficient, and accessible housing. This provides home solutions for Ugandan communities in need of immediate low-cost housing. Additionally, Bamblock uses digital twinning infrastructure to support in-field assembly and provides accessible construction guidelines, supporting faster and easier building opportunities. Bamblock houses can be readily modified, repaired or moved after extreme weather damage, for emergency housing, and other resilient housing needs.

The target population that Bamblock aims to serve is climate vulnerable groups in Uganda. Like many other parts of the world, Uganda is experiencing the acute effects of climate change which are exacerbating socio-economic challenges and creating increased population vulnerability. According to the IOM (International Office for Migration), Uganda - like several countries in the Global South - are highly dependent on natural resources; land and natural resources account for 54% of the country’s capital assets. As climate change persists land degradation and biodiversity loss are becoming more common, creating detrimental impacts for Ugandan land and home owners. As a result thousands of Ugandans are being forced to move, resulting in housing insecure situations. According to studies, the majority of people being forced into climate migration are those whose livelihoods are dependent on the environment, such as farmers. However, climate events such as landslides, mudslides and drought can affect broader populations. Climate-driven housing insecurity creates several challenges for Ugandans. Families and individuals displaced from homes often experience diminished health and sanitation due to inadequate temporary living situations. Furthermore, displaced women in Uganda are more vulnerable to gender-based violence and sexual exploitation, increasing the dangers and vulnerability that come with housing insecurity.

Our target country Uganda, is in need of increased infrastructural support and resilience-building measures. According to the 2020 Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative  Country Index, Uganda is the 12th most vulnerable country in the world to climate change, and the 36th least prepared country to adapt to climate change impacts. With a pre-existing housing shortage, the country requires immediate, accessible housing solutions. We aim to address housing insecurity challenges by using Bamblock to help support climate and housing vulnerable populations. Bamblock will address the needs of vulnerable populations in Uganda by creating a housing solution that is low cost, quick to build, and carbon-negative to prevent further contributions to climate change. By offering an all-in-one service, we will design, manufacture, deliver and install Bamblock houses, cutting down on supply chain inefficiencies and getting Ugandans into sustainable homes as fast as possible. By providing a climate resilient modular housing model, fewer Ugandans will be forced into long term homelessness or housing insecurity. Those affected by climate migration will be able to build back assets and get into safe, affordable and secure homes, while breaking the cycle of environmental deterioration and climate change fostered by unsustainable conventional construction practices.

Our architect team has been working with partners in various projects in Uganda for some years now. Together with our local partners Kwafundi and Bamboo Uganda we have secured a design and build network in the country and the region to build quality projects. We have our own bamboo processing facility and a group of skilled craftsmen who can help deliver this project. Envisioning Labs believe in an ethos of cross-collaboration to create optimal solutions. A major part of this is ensuring valuable local contributions from local partners who are direct stakeholders in the communities of operation. This allows our team's ideas to receive crucial guidance and input from the communities they operate in, positioning us to deliver a solution that is of highest value to local communities. We believe in free, prior and informed consent practices when implementing development projects such as Bamblock to ensure we receive and maintain social licensing for the duration of the project. To achieve this, we include community members who can represent the community’s agenda and goals, to ensure we are aligning with the needs of locals. BKVV Architecten founder Robert van Kats has spent many years working consistently in Uganda and forging meaningful relationships that allow for trust, engagement and transparency throughout each project. As an example of collaboration, while working in different African countries BKVV Architecten extends its professional network and shares knowledge with students and young professionals from Universities and Higher Educational Institutions in the region through internships, project related work, workshops and capacity building activities within projects and client and partner related work.

The Bamblock Sustainable and Modular Housing Solution has reached a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3. A proof-of-concept using computer-aided design has been validated. Since then Bamblock block and panel prototyping using wood materials has been built and tested for load bearing capabilities. 

This block and panel prototype focused on the core interlocking block design and the tensile rod tendon system that strengthens the blocks into panels, and enables panels to be laid flat and support load on their flat surface as floors and roofs. The block and panel prototype used a) softwood as a proxy for the engineered bamboo, suitable from a strength standpoint as softwood is not as strong as engineered bamboo, and b) threaded steel rod as a proxy for engineered bamboo tendons, also suitable for prototyping since engineered bamboo tendons can be made stronger than the mild steel of the threaded rod. For this prototyping we built a stack of five blocks with end caps using softwood timber, and tightened one tensile rod tendon through the end caps and blocks to successfully test a 140 kg load placed in the middle of the stack when the stack of blocks were laid horizontal, supported only by the end caps (representing a floor or roof scenario). Given that the block and panel prototype was verified using weaker materials than engineered bamboo, we predict that the next builds will be more durable and structurally sound with the desired final materials. It is intended that bamboo will be the main material for the final fully-functional house prototype.

Expanding on this initial design and proof of concept, Envisioning Labs is collaborating with BKVV Architecten based in Uganda, to develop full-scale Bamblock houses for further performance testing and validation. It is anticipated that we will be able to serve hundreds of Ugandans within 3 years after the full-house prototype has been validated. BKVV Architecten has significant experience building bamboo-based structures and buildings in Uganda, and will provide land for initial full-house prototype builds at their bamboo processing facility.

Our team at Envisioning Labs consistently seeks to address challenges that affect populations across the globe, and help promote sustainable development worldwide. Our core operating principle is to coordinate teams to apply cross-disciplinary expertise and diverse experience to global problems and ideate unique solutions from concept through proof-of-concept feasibility to commercial prototype verification. As our projects are driven up the technology readiness level (TRL) ladder and we reach commercial validation from both technology and business perspectives, we spin them off into dedicated companies. Thus, in the early stages, as we develop a technology’s TRL from 1 through 6, we rely on self-funding, grants, in-kind support, and early adopter support, achieved through collaborations and partnerships to reach the stage where investment can initiate the dedicated spin-off company. We hope the MIT Solve community can help us connect with finance, cultural and market resources that can elevate this concept to higher technical and business readiness levels, and prepare for commercial deployments. Of note, we connected with our partner BKVV Architecten as a result of applying for the MIT Solve challenge last year so the MIT Solve community has already shown itself as a valuable connector.

Our solution is innovative in that we advance the state-of-the-art in factory manufactured modular block building construction systems and combine our design advancements with the use of bamboo to decarbonize residential housing construction. Currently in Uganda, common materials used for building homes include concrete, fired clay bricks and iron sheets, which are all intensely carbon emitting. Early GHG estimates suggest that our housing model can sequester approximately 7 tonnes of CO2 per unit compared to its conventional Ugandan counterpart.

The Bamblock system is an evolution of existing modular block building designs, which are only suitable for vertical stacking to use as the walls of a building. Using tensile rods that run through cavities in the interlocking blocks, panels are formed which can be used for walls, ceilings, and floors, supporting both vertical and horizontal structures within a home. No other stackable, interlocking block system has this capability of providing panels that form walls, floors and roofs, and thus the entire building envelope (a building envelope consists of all the elements that make up the outer shell of a building, including walls, floor, roof, windows, doors). This design greatly simplifies the construction of an entire home into an assemble-by-numbers exercise using a simple set of block elements that anyone can follow and complete. Digital twin software will drive the design and block layout of the end building based on customer requirements, and indicate where and how all the numbered blocks and tendons fit together. No cranes or other heavy equipment are needed to construct a Bamblock building.

Because the bamboo supply chain is still in its infancy in Uganda, there is an opportunity to bolster the local economy and increase job growth by supporting regional bamboo supply chains, as well as bring the Bamblock solution to bamboo export countries. By encouraging a shift in local architecture toward more natural and sustainable materials, we can catalyze broader impacts within the country’s residential construction industry. Simultaneously, by relying on regionally available materials we can prop up Uganda’s local economy by supporting the use of locally grown construction materials rather than importing construction materials. Supporting social protection through housing, the economy is bolstered. Studies show that reducing housing insecurity and homelessness can positively impact local economies, benefitting the Ugandan market at a broader scale.

The goal of Bamblock is to reduce climate change driven housing insecurity in Uganda. Envisioning Labs and BKVV Architecten aim to support climate vulnerable populations in the country by offering efficient, sustainable and modular housing derived from naturally available local resources. To bring about this change, we require funding and expertise for product engineering, design, building architecture, manufacturing, and deployments. Activities will include iteration of current design and prototyping for complete housing applications, creating architectural blueprints, sourcing Bamboo in Uganda, creating engineered bamboo boards, and manufacturing these boards into ready-to-build Bamblock components. The output results will be the building of a sustainable, fully functional house in Uganda. Immediate outcomes of this development will include an Environmental Impact Assessment to improve knowledge of the GHG drawdown potential of a Bamblock house. Other measurable outcomes will include estimated cost comparison of Bamblock houses and conventional residential builds in Uganda, the amount of raw materials required to build a housing unit, and the amount of time required for this development. Intermediate outcomes for this project will occur as individual housing projects are executed and more houses across Uganda are built. Intermediate outcomes include enhanced access for Uganda citizens to get into safe and affordable housing. As a result, sanitation and health will improve alongside this outcome, and population vulnerability will be reduced. Our long term outcome for this project is to reduce the amount of populations around the globe affected by long-term housing insecurity after climate disasters, while creating a more sustainable residential construction approach. This theory of change will be evaluated using qualitative feedback from users as well as quantitative measurables, such as the number of units built, the number of family households impacted, the amount of greenhouse gas emissions sequestered and the amount of jobs supported by the project.

To ensure consistent project development and economic, social and environmental impact from the project, impact goals have been developed. 

The first impact goal is to build 1000 houses in Uganda within the next 5 years. The value of this goal will be realized by the amount of individuals who can develop housing security. This goal aligns with SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, and will use Target 9.4, “By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes” as a guide to measure the sustainability of the project as it scales up. The main indicator to measure this impact goal will be Indicator 9.4.1: Improving the home construction industry with reduced CO2 emission per unit of value added.

The second impact goal is to reduce the amount of Ugandans facing climate change-driven housing insecurity. This goal aligns with SDG 1: No Poverty and SDG 13: Climate Action. Targets to help define this goal include Target 1.5, “By 2030, build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations and reduce their exposure and vulnerability to climate-related extreme events and other economic, social and environmental shocks and disasters.” Another target that helps define this goal is Target 13.1, "Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries”. Reducing climate change driven housing insecurity will start by upgrading informal settlements for climate refugees in addition to targeting funding from programs that can support and uplift vulnerable communities. Indicators of goal success will be through qualitative feedback and based on census to assess whether we are reducing the amount of people in poverty and reducing the number of unhoused people with limited social mobility. 

The third impact goal is to promote a sustainably sourced and ethical construction supply chain. By relying on naturally and regionally available materials we aim to bolster local supply chains and thus economies. As sustainability is our foremost priority, ensuring complete supply chain environmental monitoring is critical. This goal aligns with SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production with a focus on Target 12.2, “By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources”. Indicators for this goal will include assessing the reduced GHG emissions and reduced material footprint of the solution measured by how many tonnes of building materials are converted from mined sources (non-renewable sources such as concrete, cement, and steel) to rapidly grown biorenewable bamboo sources as a result of the Bamblock project.

This technology was founded from deliberating high-level questions about the inextricable links between the global housing crisis and the climate crisis. Housing insecurity is prevalent across the globe, and climate vulnerable communities are some of the most impacted populations. Meanwhile, the construction and building sector continue to have severe impacts on climate change. Contemporary housing methods suited towards single-family dwellings are unsustainable in this changing world, and a shift towards sustainable and resilient housing is necessary. We aim to catalyze this shift with our partner BKVV Architecten, starting with Uganda.

From these ideas, we created the Bamblock Modular Construction System. At its core, this is a low technology solution. It could be implemented anywhere at low cost and with minimal expertise in construction techniques. The innovation is in the modular design elements that are brought together in the solution, and also the use of engineered bamboo, a relatively new building construction material that is undergoing adoption into the construction market in tropical and subtropical regions such as Uganda. By leveraging bamboo as the core material, we aim to expand construction supply chain opportunities toward materials that can be harvested sustainably with a faster regrowth rate than industrial forestry. With its carbon removal, biodegradable, water repellent, and impressive tensile strength properties, we aim to leverage a sustainable material in a construction system that can compete with current housing construction practices, while providing enhanced climate change mitigation benefits such as CO2 drawdown. Our partner BKVV Architecten works closely with bamboo manufacturing facilities and sits on the board of Bamboo Uganda, allowing our team to work closely with Ugandan bamboo supply chains and ensure sustainable development.

While other modular building technologies exist on the market, Bamblock is unique by providing an all-in-one construction solution, with the ability to build walls, floors, and roofs using the same interlocking block design due to our tensile rod tendon connection system. The Bamblock solution is supported by existing higher technologies, such as 3D design and architecture software, and CNC machining operations in manufacturing. This idea was built on pre-existing concepts of sustainable and community based housing. While modern housing trends have shifted towards unsustainable models, sustainable and multi-family housing models have been developed across cultures throughout history. We studied the architectural composition of historical courtyard housing such as Chinese Siheyuans, the structural integrity of traditional bamboo housing seen in parts of Latin America and Asia, and the naturally constructed multi-family living styles of Wigwams and Long Houses built by Indigenous populations from Turtle Island. Bamblock builds on ancestral knowledge systems that have created sustainable ways of co-living, while modernizing these designs to meet the contemporary needs of today’s society. At its core, the Bamblock modular construction system is a technology that can be designed uniquely in a way that fits the cultural and environmental housing needs of the population it serves, while being built at grassroots levels by individuals who do not require prior construction experience, as a way to support climate vulnerable communities.

We currently have 9 full-time staff working on the solution team. 

Envisioning Labs has been developing sustainable solutions for the past decade. Previous efforts helped formulate the concept for this project in 2022, with early computer-aided design and functional prototype validation occurring in 2023. Envisioning Labs established a  partnership with BKVV Architecten at the end of 2023, with the expectation of deploying a housing solution prototype in Uganda by the end of 2024. 

Envisioning Labs encourages and integrates diversity in all its activities. Envisioning Labs’ three founders include two visible minorities and our CEO was honoured as a finalist in the Best Immigrant Entrepreneur category of the Small Business BC 2018 award. We engage students or early career professionals whenever possible. Envisioning Labs has promoted diverse open groups to take on innovation in Vancouver since 2013. One program of interest included running the Corporate Social Responsibility Innovation Program which assisted internationally trained professional immigrants in getting their first Canadian work experience. Our core values are about welcoming diversity in all its aspects, including diversity of race, culture, gender, skills, experience and opinion. We support, encourage and value the participation of everyone we involve in our work of solving sustainability challenges. 

Literature shows that a broader set of people are drawn to engineering and STEM fields when they feel they can make a positive impact. Research in STEM education has shown that diverse engineering students had above-average participation levels in projects centered on sustainability issues. At Envisioning Labs we see the enthusiasm for tackling sustainability challenges by a wide diversity of people first hand, and strive to offer meaningful avenues for the expression of all our collective creativity and drive into effective sustainability solutions.

Additionally, our partner BKVV Archtecten who will be on the ground spearheading the majority of project implementation in Uganda are founding members of a broader network DASUDA (Dutch Alliance for Sustainable Urban Development in Africa) who follow a code of conduct based on pillars that support diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). The first pillar is Local people, knowledge and materials. This means all projects are made in conjunction with local people on the team, with the use of essential local knowledge inputs (reverse knowledge exchange) to ensure inclusion with local networks for African based projects. Another critical pillar to uphold DEI practices is Integrated instead of sectoral. The solutions needed in the complex urban areas and dynamic processes can only be achieved when all experts bring their inputs to the table and integrate specifics into a new combined solution that includes multiple perspectives, ensuring proper community consultation and social licensing prior to implementation.

Bamblock is designed to help local Ugandans in various socio-economic situations. Uganda has a complex housing crisis, where the cost of living is unaffordable to many and the mortgage market is inaccessible, leaving many people in housing insecure situations. Uganda has a growing housing deficit, which currently stands in need of 2.4 million housing units. We provide value to Ugandans by executing sustainable construction projects that will allow them to get into safe and affordable homes quickly, with minimal environmental footprint. While Ugandan individuals will be the main consumer of our service, initially our main customers will be NGOs and multilateral institutions investing in housing crisis relief efforts. We will target NGOs and multilateral organizations as first adopters through grants and contracts that will support the deployment of Bamblock houses and get several Ugandans out of housing insecurity. In return not-for-profit and multilateral organizations will see poverty alleviation through infrastructure and capacity building, efforts toward climate action benchmarks, improvements in health and sanitation, and SDG alignment.

We will provide a full-service housing development project, from architectural design and material manufacturing to delivery and installation. As previously mentioned, through our partner BKVV Architecten, we have access to a bamboo processing facility and a group of expert craftsmen who are equipped to deliver this project in Uganda. As the project scales up, the cost of production and manufacturing will level out, and Bamblock will become more cost competitive with conventional building solutions such as brick or concrete. Using the traction and visibility gained from initial contracts with NGOs and multilateral institutions, we will start to target government agencies for community housing development projects, as well as individual private contracts with Ugandan clients.

As countries look for innovative ways to tackle climate change, greenhouse gas emitting industries must evolve to be more environmentally conscious. We believe we can transform the construction industry, making it more sustainable, affordable and efficient. Clients want to have access to safe and affordable living, while also minimizing their carbon footprint. By integrating sustainable practices into construction processes, we can not only reduce emissions but also create structures that are climate resilient and energy-efficient. Our vision is to revolutionize Uganda’s construction industry by harnessing local natural and renewable materials and advanced prefabrication building techniques, ensuring that every project aligns with our commitment to both eliminating housing insecurity and tackling climate change.

As this project will prioritize low-resource communities, we aim to ensure project sustainability and risk mitigation using diversified and phased funding streams. Envisioning Labs and partners at BKVV Architecten have developed a strategic partnership to initiate early project development and deployment through a joint venture that provides in-kind and fiscal support. Early development stages will be reliant on grant funding. Envisioning Labs has partnerships with multilateral institutions who support socio-economic development in the Global South, which may improve opportunities for grants. As we demonstrate successful validation outcomes, we will seek grant renewal opportunities with philanthropic organizations, governments, and multilateral institutions that can support the iterative deployment process. Using performance testing data, we plan to demonstrate the value of the project including the socio-economic benefits of reducing construction costs and materials; reducing environmental impact of the construction sector; providing rapid housing; and creating adaptability for at-risk and climate vulnerable communities. We envision that the involvement of community partners will garner recognition from governments because this project supports local bamboo supply chains and creates value to regions advancing economic development using local resources. As we execute our deployment strategy, our long term vision is to develop price competitiveness as supply chain costs level out. Once performance is validated, sustainable funding can be achieved through private sources who are interested in a low cost and environmentally conscious construction solution. Because this construction solution can be implemented with fewer materials in less time, it is a lucrative investment for construction firms aiming to complete several projects in a shorter period of time.

In the first 3 years, we aim to establish enough support and a preliminary business model to build hundreds of homes annually in Uganda. By year 5, we target to build 1000 houses annually in the country, and begin expanding to other countries with the regional raw materials and resources to support the Bamblock housing initiative. By year 10, we aim to start working toward total market integration, with a mature enough supply chain to support Bamblock housing solutions globally. We aim to integrate into the residential housing construction sector and replace current unsustainable housing models and materials with prefabricated Bamblock, empowering homeowners to easily build their own homes and enabling access to low cost housing options while contributing to millions of tonnes of CO2 sequestration annually.