Projet pilote de transformation et densification urbaine de la ville de Lomé

Background and origin of the project 

The project was initiated by the Government of Togo after senior personnel from the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing visiting the Skat/PROECCO affordable housing project in Mpazi.

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Deliverables:  

The project comprises 7 interdependent lots.  The signed contracts covers lots 0, 1, 2 and 3:

Lot 0: Feasibility Study  

Lot 1:  Project design, identification of partnerships and calculation of construction and service costs 

Lot 2: Design of a pilot fired brick factory and support the operationalisation of a pilot unit 

Lot 3: Design of demonstration blocks and social engineering on the blocks to be transformed.

The following deliverables are foreseen for a follow up contract to be signed in 2025.

Lot 4: Construction of the pilot brickworks 

Lot 5: Launch of brick production and product development, support for the technical and financial management of the brickworks 

Lot 6: Construction and conversion of the demonstration blocks

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Feasibility  Study (Lot 0) 

A team of Skat  experts from Switzerland, accompanied by a team from the Ministry of Urban  Planning and Housing and the Togolese Presidency, jointly assessed the  urbanisation dynamics, challenges and potential of Greater Lomé, particularly  in terms of urban sprawl and housing supply. Particular attention was paid to  knowledge gaps in the local construction industry and weaknesses in the  supply chain. 

In addition,  an in-depth study of ongoing real estate projects allowed to propose ways to  reduce construction costs and improve the agglomeration economy of the  capital.  

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Project  design, identification of partnerships, calculation of construction and  service costs (Lot 1) 

The Lot 1  contract allowed the design of an intervention plan, and the  definition of the partnerships required to implement the project in  a way that best builds the capacity of local stakeholders. The main actors  are a team of ministry officials, the Centre for Housing and Construction and  an institute that trains young professionals to improve their technical and  business management skills. 

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Design  of a pilot fired brick factory and support for its operation (Lot 2) 

Following an  assessment of the geological characteristics of the large marshlands and  lagoons that surround the capital city, the study of the regions  building history allowed to identify the most promising raw  material for the construction of the storied buildings  that are required to address the city’s challenges of urban sprawl.  Several technical solutions for a pilot factory have been assessed and two  options been shortlisted for detailed design. Simultaneously several  sites have been identified that are suitable for the establishment  of Eco-Industrial Parks that will accommodate a  fast-growing number of building material producers.

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Design  of demonstration blocks and social engineering on the blocks to be  transformed (Lot 3) 

After visiting  10 shortlisted neighbourhoods in the Greater Lome Area, Skat and  the Togolese Ministry of Urban Development and  Housing shortlisted 6 sites for the detailed design  of upgraded and densified city blocks, covering a built-up area of  35.000m2. The city blocks include rental housing, individual  house units, commercial space, and mixed units with  commercial ground floor, tenants and  homeowners. Most designs are based on an advanced  modular construction system, developed in Kigali, and has been  adapted to the coastal environment within the work in Dar es  Salaam and is now adjusted to the cultural and economic requirements in  Western Africa.  

First designs  have been discussed with the Togolese resource persons and their  performance for self-financed settlement densification been simulated.