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PetitHaus: Innovative housing solution that helps low/medium income earners access affordable, highly efficient qualitative living with convenience and unparalleled cost effectiveness.
Affordable Homeownership
SNEAK PEEK
If there's any lesson I always hope to leave people with, especially public leaders and policymakers, it is the fact that Housing has immense potential to turn the economies of African and African nations around for good. You must have read or heard me say repeatedly:
“Housing is as important as oil, trade, commerce, banking, and even agriculture is to the economy and national prosperity”.
This is because housing is more than just a place to live. Like a Sudoku grid, which can not be solved by separating the grid into individual squares, to achieve the “African dream”, we can not isolate housing from other growth and economic development factors.
Throughout history, it has been a driving force for economies, a reflection of societal values, and a foundation for thriving communities. From the insulae of ancient Rome to the suburban boom of post-war America, housing has shaped commerce, economic growth, and social cohesion.
Housing is an ‘organic’ economic growth hack.
Today, Africa is at a crossroads, where affordable housing has the potential to unlock massive economic growth while addressing a critical need. The construction of affordable homes isn’t just about giving people a roof over their heads; it’s about creating a robust economic ecosystem that fosters business, employment, and innovation.
And, as we look to the future, there are valuable lessons that can guide Africa’s affordable housing schemes/programs, lessons that illustrate how housing developments can revolutionize commerce and bring prosperity to millions.
In ancient Rome, housing played an important role in classification. In fact, the city, and housing were intentionally designed to differentiate class, zone, income and status. Even in ruins, you can tell differently, where the rich lived from where the poor lived. The building types confirm this.
The Roman insulae (urban apartment blocks) were built to house the growing population of the city, often accommodating residents in multi-level dwellings. These buildings, though poorly built, and susceptible to fires, met a critical demand: providing housing in a densely populated city.
At the same time, the Roman domus, or private homes of the wealthy elite, represented more than just a place to live; they were status symbols. Built and adorned with elaborate gardens, and courtyards, and often included commercial spaces like storefronts. The elite's signal of success and the ticket to higher prestige.
Beyond status, Roman housing played a central role in the city’s commerce. Urban homes (for the wealthy elite) were often designed with integrated tabernae (shops) on the ground floor, an integration of commercial utility within residential spaces.
“Mixed-use developments” ‘nor be today’.
This model fostered local trade and business, allowing commerce to thrive in proximity to where people lived. If your parents owned a home or maybe you grew up in a township like me, you'd relate to how easy it is to ‘put’ a shop outfront to sell neighbourhood needs.
Fast forward to 1950s America, where the suburban housing boom reshaped the national economy. With the rise of the automobile and the construction of the interstate highway system, people began moving out of urban centres and into the suburbs. At the time, the median home price was reported to be $7,400, while the median household income was $2,900. Homes were affordable and, for many, owning property was within reach.
The effect of this mass relocation led to significant economic growth within these suburban areas. Not only did the construction of new homes create jobs in construction, manufacturing, and real estate, but it also resulted in the increased demand for household goods like furniture, appliances, even more cars, and more.
Contributing to overall economic expansion. The suburban lifestyle also fuelled the creation of local businesses, schools, and community infrastructure. Life was inclusive and fair for everyone as long as housing prices remained affordable in the 1950s and 60s. It wasn't until “real estate” transitioned from basic housing to investment portfolio in the 1980s that this dynamic began to change.
House prices started to rise disproportionately to income, and this shift, to date, has had profound consequences on housing affordability, even globally.
Lessons from Singapore’s approach offer a valuable framework for Africa, where urbanization and housing shortages continue to rise. I do not imply that Singapore is the future, however, it gives proof of what the future and forward-thinking policies can bring.
When most of us think about public housing, what typically comes to mind are run-down neighbourhoods or concrete high-rise blocks, ‘barracks', some of us call them. Hardly do we imagine it as places where the rich and poor ‘commonly’ and communally live side by side.
But Singapore is different. With 80% of its population living in government-built flats, Singapore’s housing model stands out as a global success. It’s a story of how visionary policies, bold land reforms, and strong governance came together to solve one of the most pressing challenges of modern cities: affordable housing.
In many parts of the world, public housing carries a stigma. It’s often associated with poverty, crime, and neglect. But in Singapore, public housing is something to be proud of. Here's ChatGPT’s response to “describe Singapore's public housing in a sentence”: From sleek high-rise apartments to carefully planned new towns, Singapore’s public housing is diverse, high-quality, and accessible to all social classes.
The country has, against all odds, created a system where owning a home is the norm rather than the exception, and where the ‘good of the community’ is as prioritized as the individual.
What sets Singapore apart is how it has made public housing desirable. The government didn’t just build homes; it created entire neighbourhoods, complete with schools, hospitals, parks, and shopping malls.
At the heart of Singapore’s success is a government-driven model that takes housing out of the speculative market. Through a combination of mandatory savings (with workers contributing 20% of their wages to a national savings fund), government loans, and subsidies, Singaporeans are able to buy homes at prices they can afford.
This approach ensures that housing remains a place to live, and doesn't become plagued by the ‘investment bug’. This has kept prices stable and prevents the kind of runaway speculation seen in older civilizations and other parts of the world.
In Singapore, homeownership isn’t a luxury; it’s a right. The state’s aggressive land acquisition policies have made it possible to develop housing quickly and at scale. In fact, from 1960 to 2005, the percentage of government-owned land in Singapore grew from 44% to 90%. This control over land has enabled the government to keep housing affordable and available for everyone, without the price spikes that often accompany urbanization.
But Singapore’s housing model goes beyond just building homes, it’s also about deliberately building a society. One strategy the country has applied is the use of ethnic quotas, an allocated threshold to represent the ratio of diversity in every neighbourhood.
This has helped the country ensure that neighbourhoods reflect the country’s ethnic diversity, thus preventing segregation and fostering a sense of unity. You will typically see Malay, Chinese, and Indian residents live side by side, attend the same schools, and shop at the same stores, which has helped reduce racial tensions.
Additionally, Singapore’s public housing encourages social cohesion through design. Features like ‘void decks,’ communal spaces on the first floor of apartment buildings, are used for everything from weddings to polling stations, reinforcing the idea that these are not just buildings, but communities.
As African cities continue to grow, housing shortage remains a major challenge. With the population expected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050, and much of that growth concentrated in urban areas, lessons from Singapore offer a roadmap for addressing these challenges.
Africa can learn Singapore’s inclusive housing design, reducing the stigma often associated with public housing while creating vibrant, mixed-income communities. African governments can ensure that housing developments benefit everyone, not just the wealthy few.
This may be a tall order, but a government-led approach to housing affordability, similar to Singapore’s, will remove housing from speculative markets, thus keeping it affordable for a broader segment of the population. It is high time we considered policies that enable affordable homeownership through regulated savings/investment schemes, subsidies, and loan initiatives.
Applicable lessons from Singapore.
The economic benefits of Singapore’s housing policies, similar to post-war America, are immense.
As expected, the construction of affordable homes has created jobs, boosted local businesses, and stimulated demand for goods and services, from household appliances to schools and hospitals. This type of ‘interdependent’ economic ecosystem is critical for Africa’s future, where job creation and economic development are closely tied to the success of housing policies.
Moreover, affordable housing creates social stability. As learnt from Singapore, where family-centric housing policies have influenced everything from voting behaviours to community dynamics. Likewise, for African cities, where urban migration and family structures are rapidly changing, creating homes that support social cohesion is vital for long-term stability.
Of course, the success of Singapore’s housing model is also closely tied to its government. Particularly, Singapore’s founding Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, saw housing as a tool for nation-building. The state’s control over land, its technocratic approach, and its ability to operate without the constraints of private market interests were key to the model’s success. (You can probably guess now, where PetitHaus ideals come from. LOL)
For Africa, strong governance, public trust, and a commitment to long-term planning must be embraced if we were to replicate Singapore's type of success. While every African country’s political context is different, the underlying principle remains the same. Housing must become more than just a commodity; it must become a common good, a tool that can drive economic growth, improve quality of life, and foster social harmony.
Africa, as often described, is an emerging entity, whether in economic growth or in infrastructure development, most nations and cities are still developing. Due to this, the housing market, with its peculiarities, can be savaged and remodelled. We can leverage Affordable housing to promote a more equitable society where economic growth benefits all and not just the few elite.
As Africa moves forward, it’s essential to avoid the mistakes of older/global housing markets, wherein housing has become increasingly unaffordable due to speculative investment and rising demand. It is important to focus on stabilizing housing prices and making homes accessible to more people, especially the middle/low-income class. We can avoid the socio-economic divides seen in other parts of the world.
As African cities continue to expand, affordable housing will become a crucial driver of economic growth and social stability. By drawing on the lessons from Singapore, i.e, prioritizing inclusivity, removing housing from speculative markets, and using government policies to keep homes affordable, African nations will build a brighter, more sustainable future.
Housing is the foundation of society, and by prioritizing housing, African governments can unlock vast economic potential, create jobs, and even achieve economic prosperity, making their cities ‘not just’ places to live, but thriving, inclusive communities.
In Africa (especially sub-Saharan Africa) today, there’s a growing demand for housing, affordable ones, that is. Africa stands at a pivotal moment, especially as the continent’s growing population is expected to double by 2050, and the demand for housing has never been greater. This demand presents a tremendous opportunity for economic growth, but also a challenge: how can we build affordable homes that meet the needs of a diverse and growing population?
And right there at the intersection of these opportunities and challenges is the promise of possibilities that PetitHaus offers. We have learnt, seen and understood how quickly access to decent accommodation can result in improved quality of life, stability and financial independence for individuals, families, and even communities.
Drawing lessons from ancient Rome, suburban America, and Singapore, Africa can leverage the power of housing to drive its economic future. Just as sudoku can not be solved by separating the squares, Africa's economic and social development will not be solved without including Affordable housing in the mix. Housing can transform communities, create jobs, foster local commerce, and ensure that more people have access to safe and secure homes.
Here are a few of the ways ‘affordable’ Housing can turn our economy around:
Providing affordable housing is more than just about building houses; it’s intentionally creating vibrant, self-sustaining communities where people can live, work, and thrive. The road ahead may be challenging, but the rewards are immense, for individuals, businesses, and the entire continent.
Affordable housing is not just a social good; it’s a great business for Africa’s future. And it’s time we build the foundations of economic prosperity, one home at a time.
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