In Africa, for example, new construction usually uses concrete and suffers from poor quality. “It’s like the worst of both worlds,” says Ariana Karamallis, director of global engagement at housing non-profit Build Change, based in Colorado. When using innovative materials like rice husk, she adds, it’s crucial to find a “sweet spot” between affordability, scalability and relating to the community – and to avoid testing novel techniques on the most vulnerable.
