Architect Julien de Smedt is working with Norwegian startup Othalo to create a range of modular houses that will be constructed largely from recycled plastic.
Created by Othalo, in partnership with UN Habitat ? the United Nations' programme for sustainable urban development ? the homes are designed to be a low-cost option for sub-Saharan Africa.
Using a patented system each house's main structure and walls will be made from recycled plastic, with a sixty-square-metres Othalo house incorporating around eight tonnes of plastic waste.
Top: the same building blocks will be used for various kinds of housing. Above: the low-cost homes will be made from recycled plastic
"The patent contains a loadbearing structure and a supportive and insulating structure," Othalo founder Frank Cato Lahti told Dezeen. "Both of these two structures can be made of 100 per cent recycled plastics."
De Smedt and Othalo started with a focus on housing in sub-Saharan countries
Othalo and De Smedt, who designed the modular elements, envision the homes being constructed from plastic that is collected from near the building sites.
"We believe this is one of the ways to deal with a shortage of building materials in these areas of the world where there is an urgent need for housing," said De Smedt.

"Just as cities are formed by buildings of wood, of concrete, clay, steel, they could very well contain a building constructed from plastic waste, as long as it?s done in a saf...