Start of construction: Bethany Joy School in Kawangware
In 2020, we constructed a building with our construction system for the first time: the Oloo's Children Centre in the Kibera slum in Nairobi. Two weeks ago, we broke ground…
WE AIM TO CHANGE LIVING
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 the slums 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 slums.
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.
