African House Made of Plastic Bottles

By ⋅ November 9, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment
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Nigeria house made of bottles (Photo: Sam Olukoya/BBC)

Nigeria house made of bottles (Photo: Sam Olukoya/BBC)

For the Geo Quiz, we’re looking for a major hub of Nigeria.

This city is the capital of the north-central state that bears the same name.

The city was founded by the British in the early 20th century.

Both Muslims and Christians coexist there.

Though there have been serious religious tensions, especially after the implementation of Sharia law in 2001.

There are some serious environmental issues there as well.

Because drinking tap water is not safe in Nigeria, people consume a lot of bottled water and that creates *a lot* of trash.

Making bricks for the unusual buildings (Photo: Sam Olukoya/BBC)

Making bricks for the unusual buildings (Photo: Sam Olukoya/BBC)

One non-governmental organization thought it’d be a good idea to use those empty plastic bottles as building materials.

In fact, they’re building homes a few miles outside the Nigerian city we’re looking for.

What’s its name?

The answer is Kaduna, in northern Nigeria.

And just outside of Kaduna, you’ll find the village of Yelwa.

That village is now the site of Nigeria’s first-ever house built from recycled plastic bottles.

It’s a one bedroom set-up with all the comforts of home.

It required 8,000 bottles, and built in the round style of traditional Northern Nigerian houses.

The BBC’s Sam Olukoya saw it for himself.


Nigeria house made of plastic bottles (Photo: Sam Olukoya/BBC)

Nigeria house made of plastic bottles (Photo: Sam Olukoya/BBC)


Discussion

15 comments for “African House Made of Plastic Bottles”

  • Anonymous

    I suppose it will be okay until the houses catch fire.  A house-full of burning plastic will emit heavy, dark soot and noxious fumes that will poison the neighborhood and spread across the city.

    • bell larson

      how  would cement catch fire? ,  the bottle  are filed  with sand.  you need  to inform   and educate yourself.  I am not sure whether to  call  you ignorant /un-savvy  or a fool. I  my opinion  there  is creativity  in  this building.

  • bell larson

     Good Job Nigeria, at least one can count on one positive endeavor coming out of your country

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Öscar-Martinez/100001983437812 Öscar Martinez

    Larson could not have said it any clearer than that! Did you even look at the inside picture of this building????? Cement its plastered over the bottles so that they use less of it (cement, in case you are having trouble following up)

    Oh and by the way…. KUDOS for Kaduna! It is an awesome idea!

  • Anonymous

    I’m with bell. That could be the most ridiculous thing I’ve read.

  • Anonymous

    I heard this first on NPR.  Congratulations for thinking out of the box.  Keep thinking and doing!

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Joseph-Nietlong/100000526235432 Joseph Nietlong

    There’s a famous south-west artist who used bottles for the floor of his all adobe house in Tucson, now an art museum. Something similar I think.

  • http://www.facebook.com/osahon.john Osahon John

    It is ingenious,turning an enviromrtental menace to a solution,and at least one positive news from the quiet volitile northern Nigeria.Kudos i say.

  • http://www.facebook.com/osahon.john Osahon John

    It is ingenious,turning an enviromrtental menace to a solution,and at least one positive news from the quiet volitile northern Nigeria.Kudos i say.

  • http://www.facebook.com/osahon.john Osahon John

    This should be encouraged at all levels and Ngerian universities, civil engineers, material scitentist and architects i appeal to you all let this interest you and help save our enviroment.   

  • Anonymous

    I think it’s a great idea, but my first thought was that if they are leaving the ends of the bottles exposed, the UV in sunlight is going to deteriorate the plastic in a few years.  Then the bottles will start failing and the walls will collapse.  Maybe I’m wrong, but they should at least plaster over the exterior surfaces to protect them.  Maybe they do- the article doesn’t say one way or the other.

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=680883769 Sue Bee

      Apparently the bottles take some 450 years to completely biodegrade, so maybe they’re okay in leaving the ends of the bottles exposed? There’s more photos and more information here: http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=18010 and here: http://www.kubatanablogs.net/kubatana/?p=7246

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=680883769 Sue Bee

      Apparently the bottles take some 450 years to completely biodegrade, so maybe they’re okay in leaving the ends of the bottles exposed? There’s more photos and more information here: http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=18010 and here: http://www.kubatanablogs.net/kubatana/?p=7246

  • Anonymous

    I think it’s a great idea, but my first thought was that if they are leaving the ends of the bottles exposed, the UV in sunlight is going to deteriorate the plastic in a few years.  Then the bottles will start failing and the walls will collapse.  Maybe I’m wrong, but they should at least plaster over the exterior surfaces to protect them.  Maybe they do- the article doesn’t say one way or the other.

  • Anonymous

    ….ambitious idea and an absolutely better way to dispose of the plastic bottles that are tossed with reckless abandon all over the streets of our African countries.Hopefully this idea will develop legs and spread all over Africa.