The Empower Upgrade Model transforms informal settlements into integrated communities without displacing situated residents. Developed by Urban Think Tank Empower (UTTE), it replaces unsafe shacks with resilient, multifunctional homes, incorporating small trading spaces, shared amenities, and renewable energy.

The project began in Cape Town, Khayelitsha’s BT-Soweto community. On this site, the project transformed 72 informal shacks into 72 housing units. By leveraging existing land and social networks, this project proves that housing can be more than just shelter — housing can be a tool for tapping into economic, social and food-resilience opportunities admist challenging social realities.

Khayelitsha, one of South Africa’s largest townships, reflects the country’s housing inequality and urban informality. Densely populated with self-built shacks, it faces overcrowding and limited infrastructure. Empower Upgrade Model builds on this foundation, replacing unsafe shacks with multi-functional homes while ensuring residents stay on their land they are situated in without relocation or forced removal.

Building 1000 Homes
UTT project
An Architecture of Equity