We aim to change living
conditions of vulnerable
communities from inside.

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
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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.

More about us
How do I become a partner?

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.
Building system

With Twistblocks, you build homes for life with fewer resources, more cost-effectively.

Planning, visualization and construction

Project planning, architectural design of TwistBlock buildings, project and construction management

TwistBlock Factory

You want to start your own business and sell TwistBlocks?
We will support you in this.

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.
More on TwistBlocks

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Latest News

News from the world of Start Somewhere
News
23. July 2024

A new prototype for affordable housing in Nairobi!

We are very proud to announce a new prototype of 4 residential units in Nairobi, developed in partnership with Global Property Advice for the Livelihood Impact Fund (LIF). This project…
Start Somewhere gemeinnuetzige GmbH
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News
19. March 2024

Global One Primary School is ceremonially opened

The Global One Primary School is a newly constructed school building in Kibera with space for 225 students. The building was sponsored by PERI, the manufacturer of the TwistBlock mould.…
Start Somewhere gemeinnuetzige GmbH
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News
3. November 2023

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…
Start Somewhere gemeinnuetzige GmbH
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