What’s a Bedsitter?
We write from the beautiful Kingdom of Eswatini, in Southern Africa about all things Architecture. Volmink Group is a multi-disciplinary architecture and design firm. Our core focus is to help people live and work better by designing spaces that foster excitement and growth. We will be using this blog platform to post our articles, writings, thoughts and ideas. We find it really interesting to read about projects around the world, and it makes sense to share some of whats happening in our sphere.
We embarked on a project to write about rural low cost housing, and publish regular articles in our local news papers. This was a way to share ideas about improving the standard of builds and living, and to reach as many people as possible. We receive numerous enquiries from our local communities, on how to build a low cost started home. When reading these writings, be cognisant of our location in Africa, the materials and resources common to our surroundings, and the rural areas in which some of these small buildings will be built.
The Infamous Bedsitter! Did you know the local term “bedsitters” refers to a one-room dwelling, also known as a studio unit or one-room apartment in other parts of the world. “Bedsitter” refers to having all your living areas (kitchen, lounge) in one often very small space (4mx4m).
We engaged a group of young to middle age Emaswati to find out why bedsitters are so popular, and what challenges they face building these starter homes. The feedback was interesting, and varying.
A town located bedsitter rental is around E600 per month ($40 p/m) and the average wage of someone renting it is E2500 per month ($160 p/m). A rental bedsitter typically comes with 1 light and 1 plug point, no water connection (there is a communal tap outside) and shared electricity. A rural located bedsitter will typically be built and occupied by a family, on Nation Land.
Bedsitters are popular because they provide the basics of human shelter, but in their simplicity can evolve into something so much more than the initial four walls. Emaswati typically start a building project with a bedsitter which has many functions. These bedsitters are often made from mud and stick, or a hay and clay mixture. Recently however, they are being made of readily available concrete block.
There are key items to consider when building a starter home; the most important is to start with a well thought out plan. This plan should consider the building structure, the environment and the building orientation to ensure the occupants enjoy a safe, well light and enjoyable living environment. A home is an evolving entity, that changes with the needs of the inhabitants. These needs have different lifespans and can be considered in the planning stage. We have developed a series of starter pack home layouts that can be adapted, extended and finished to meet the individual taste of the home owner. Each Starter Pack comes complete with plans, a set of specifications for finishes and a guide to engaging your builder to ensure a well-built product. Our interest is bringing housing solutions for Emaswati that inspire equality in living standards.
Our next writing will discuss options to extend your bedsitter in phases into a family size home. Thanks for reading this intro!
“Emaswati” — People local to The Kingdom of Eswatini