Our trip to Nairobi: Encounters, successes and challenges
At the beginning of October, we, the founders of Start Somewhere, had the opportunity to travel to Nairobi again after four years. For us, it was something very special to…
We aim to change living
Innovative & sustainable
Twistblock construction
Produced and applied
by the local residents.
We aim to change living
conditions of vulnerable
communities from inside.
Innovative & sustainable
Twistblock construction
Produced and applied
by the local residents.
Who we are – what we do
From architectural planning to construction and factory planning
Sustainable improvement of living conditions in disadvantaged regions of this world with our TwistBlocks building system.
Start Somewhere is a non-profit GmbH from Munich with eleven years of experience in development cooperation in informal settlements. Specifically, we have developed TwistBlocks, a flexible, reusable, cost-effective and fire-safe construction system for buildings in disadvantaged regions.
Start Somewhere Impact in Kenya
3
TwistBlock factories
15
permanent local jobs
60500
TwistBlocks sold
20
Local TwistBlock buildings (4 school buildings)
Our Services
We are the TwistBlock experts – From architectural design to construction and factory planning.
This is TwistBlocks
Fast and easy construction with lower costs: Certified by Kenya Bureau of Standards
AFFORDABLE LIVING SPACE: Fewer building materials and a shorter construction time mean lower construction costs.
DECONSTRUCTABLE & REUSABLE: 80% of the blocks can easily be dismanted and reused.
MORTAR-FREE WALLS: Thanks to the interlocking block design, no mortar is required to join the layers, making TwistBlock up to 10 times faster to install than traditional bricks.
IMPROVING LIVES: Twistblocks are made by local people in the informal settlement of Kibera in Nairobi. Opening a factory in your neighborhood can also improve the livelihoods of people in your community.
FLEXIBLE FLOOR PLANS: Wall segments can be infinitely folded to maximize available space, which is especially important in irregular site conditions such as informal settlements.
FIRE SAFETY: Cement blocks are naturally fire resistant and provide additional protection in densely populated areas that are prone to fires.
