Comments on: PREFAB FRIDAY: Zenkaya http://www.inhabitat.com/2006/05/26/prefab-friday-zenkaya/ Future-forward design for the world you inhabit Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:06:50 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Money servicehttp://www.inhabitat.com/2006/05/26/prefab-friday-zenkaya/comment-page-1/#comment-116584 Money service Tue, 03 Feb 2009 11:34:37 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/blog/2006/05/26/prefab-friday-zenkaya/#comment-116584 Your blog is very beautiful. Thank you. Your blog is very beautiful.
Thank you.

]]> By: Contemporarycapricehttp://www.inhabitat.com/2006/05/26/prefab-friday-zenkaya/comment-page-1/#comment-106521 Contemporarycaprice Sat, 11 Oct 2008 03:49:21 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/blog/2006/05/26/prefab-friday-zenkaya/#comment-106521 I like how it admit it's similarities to a trailer home, but what's up with the selection for the interior walls? I like how it admit it’s similarities to a trailer home, but what’s up with the selection for the interior walls?

]]> By: samiadhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2006/05/26/prefab-friday-zenkaya/comment-page-1/#comment-82282 samiad Fri, 23 May 2008 15:42:33 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/blog/2006/05/26/prefab-friday-zenkaya/#comment-82282 As an African I\'m proud of it,hope it is cheap and within our reach As an African I\’m proud of it,hope it is cheap and within our reach

]]> By: scott shubbhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2006/05/26/prefab-friday-zenkaya/comment-page-1/#comment-49050 scott shubb Mon, 16 Jul 2007 20:09:53 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/blog/2006/05/26/prefab-friday-zenkaya/#comment-49050 great looking product.I would like to see more,and i would like to know how far you can ship these units,thanks,scott shubb 805-651-9198 4941 coral way Oxnard,california 93035 U.S.A. great looking product.I would like to see more,and i would like to know how far you can ship these units,thanks,scott shubb 805-651-9198
4941 coral way
Oxnard,california 93035
U.S.A.

]]> By: Maria Gillmanhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2006/05/26/prefab-friday-zenkaya/comment-page-1/#comment-47730 Maria Gillman Thu, 21 Jun 2007 11:47:37 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/blog/2006/05/26/prefab-friday-zenkaya/#comment-47730 A beautiful little home! A beautiful little home!

]]> By: Alice Williamshttp://www.inhabitat.com/2006/05/26/prefab-friday-zenkaya/comment-page-1/#comment-1756 Alice Williams Sat, 10 Jun 2006 22:22:59 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/blog/2006/05/26/prefab-friday-zenkaya/#comment-1756 Oh my! This is truly a wonderful design. Very very exciting! Hope to see it in the USA. Oh my! This is truly a wonderful design. Very very exciting! Hope to see it in the USA.

]]> By: RENATA PINEDOhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2006/05/26/prefab-friday-zenkaya/comment-page-1/#comment-1726 RENATA PINEDO Fri, 09 Jun 2006 14:38:29 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/blog/2006/05/26/prefab-friday-zenkaya/#comment-1726 This is very,very good . This is very,very good .

]]> By: Erichttp://www.inhabitat.com/2006/05/26/prefab-friday-zenkaya/comment-page-1/#comment-1699 Eric Fri, 02 Jun 2006 11:04:55 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/blog/2006/05/26/prefab-friday-zenkaya/#comment-1699 Being the brain child behind Zenkaya, I would like to bring some answers to comments above. I agree that there is need and room for improvement in South Africa in terms of Unemployement and poverty. I have to say that the idea was first to have architectural prefabs accepted in this country by bringing something upmarket and therefore going down to more mass market and I am quite happy to say that I was contacted to put one in Soweto as a bar gallery. This is a great step because that is the only way people can see it and say prefab is not so bad. Yes they can't afford it but at least the preconception is gone and down the road someone will come with a more affordable solution. Having worked for low cost development before, I can tell you that from a poor person perspective that prefab is not what they want to live in....neither straw and mud which is considered too rural. They want what the "rich man" has which is concrete blocks. The housing issue to my point of view is not an architectural issue but a political one were if you don't have political will and community involvement you won't succeed for the long term and good architecture which bring solution to the problem does not arm. Yes Straw and mud is beautiful...in our minds but straw and mud is not going to help solve the problem South Africa is facing in terms of housing shortages so I think this is not relevant. To answer the materials issue; Zenkaya was build entirely with local materials having the labor issue in mind and wanted to give jobs to south africans by filling a niche market. Also Zenkaya was not created only for the South African market. I happen to live here at the time and yes the landscape inspired me like any beautiful landscape could have. Being the brain child behind Zenkaya, I would like to bring some answers to comments above.
I agree that there is need and room for improvement in South Africa in terms of Unemployement and poverty. I have to say that the idea was first to have architectural prefabs accepted in this country by bringing something upmarket and therefore going down to more mass market and I am quite happy to say that I was contacted to put one in Soweto as a bar gallery. This is a great step because that is the only way people can see it and say prefab is not so bad. Yes they can’t afford it but at least the preconception is gone and down the road someone will come with a more affordable solution. Having worked for low cost development before, I can tell you that from a poor person perspective that prefab is not what they want to live in….neither straw and mud which is considered too rural. They want what the “rich man” has which is concrete blocks. The housing issue to my point of view is not an architectural issue but a political one were if you don’t have political will and community involvement you won’t succeed for the long term and good architecture which bring solution to the problem does not arm.
Yes Straw and mud is beautiful…in our minds but straw and mud is not going to help solve the problem South Africa is facing in terms of housing shortages so I think this is not relevant.
To answer the materials issue; Zenkaya was build entirely with local materials having the labor issue in mind and wanted to give jobs to south africans by filling a niche market.
Also Zenkaya was not created only for the South African market. I happen to live here at the time and yes the landscape inspired me like any beautiful landscape could have.

]]> By: kophttp://www.inhabitat.com/2006/05/26/prefab-friday-zenkaya/comment-page-1/#comment-1681 kop Thu, 01 Jun 2006 10:57:24 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/blog/2006/05/26/prefab-friday-zenkaya/#comment-1681 reply to giselle... firstly...I think you read too much. Your opion would have been more imformed if you had actually been to south africa...from your commmets, it's clear to me that you have not been here, but you are forgiven. Do you honestly imagine that even with the unemplyment we face, that the majority of houses are made of straw and stone?...again, you should read less and travel more. forward me your email and i'll send you some pics of prefab housing used by the unemplyed masses of south africa...the china idea will defeinately fly out the window then.secondly...It's vital for nayone to understand a design's brief before being critical about the product. The beatiful zenkaya prefab is aimed at the high end of the market...does that ring any bells? reply to giselle…
firstly…I think you read too much. Your opion would have been more imformed if you had actually been to south africa…from your commmets, it’s clear to me that you have not been here, but you are forgiven.
Do you honestly imagine that even with the unemplyment we face, that the majority of houses are made of straw and stone?…again, you should read less and travel more. forward me your email and i’ll send you some pics of prefab housing used by the unemplyed masses of south africa…the china idea will defeinately fly out the window then.

secondly…It’s vital for nayone to understand a design’s brief before being critical about the product. The beatiful zenkaya prefab is aimed at the high end of the market…does that ring any bells?

]]> By: gisellehttp://www.inhabitat.com/2006/05/26/prefab-friday-zenkaya/comment-page-1/#comment-1588 giselle Tue, 30 May 2006 09:41:29 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/blog/2006/05/26/prefab-friday-zenkaya/#comment-1588 is this design intended to be used in south africa,? the reason for my question is one of the biggest problems in SA is poverty, due to unemployment and to design something that is generally prefab is a bit of a pie in the sky! Labour is cheap, and we need to design effectively and efficiently to suit the location. Having said that, where do those materials come from? china? how about using local materials, such as straw, and stone. one can design simple beautiful architecture like this while keeping context in mind. Get REAL! is this design intended to be used in south africa,?
the reason for my question is one of the biggest problems in SA is poverty, due to unemployment and to design something that is generally prefab is a bit of a pie in the sky! Labour is cheap, and we need to design effectively and efficiently to suit the location. Having said that, where do those materials come from? china? how about using local materials, such as straw, and stone. one can design simple beautiful architecture like this while keeping context in mind. Get REAL!

]]> By: Leopold Mak Enderhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2006/05/26/prefab-friday-zenkaya/comment-page-1/#comment-1494 Leopold Mak Ender Sat, 27 May 2006 19:24:19 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/blog/2006/05/26/prefab-friday-zenkaya/#comment-1494 Hurrayyyyyyy, nice work. Continue... Hurrayyyyyyy, nice work.
Continue…

]]> By: Brucehttp://www.inhabitat.com/2006/05/26/prefab-friday-zenkaya/comment-page-1/#comment-1474 Bruce Fri, 26 May 2006 18:13:45 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/blog/2006/05/26/prefab-friday-zenkaya/#comment-1474 Nice; will they deliver to the Pacific Northwest (USA)? Nice; will they deliver to the Pacific Northwest (USA)?

]]>