بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
The Jibalus Salaam estate is meant to be a self sufficient community with the objective of being off grid, and independent, and not a estate exclusive only to the rich. Therefore we have made available a number of different building options that we have studied intensively and developed to cater for differing needs and budgets to make the estate all inclusive for those who share the similar deeni mindset that is the common binding factor.
We know that some families will visit the estate from time to time while others may want to live here permanently. Some prefer a move to simple living while others may be working remotely or have a larger family with the need for more space and amenities. In light of this we have made 3 options available to cater for our residents. (Note that these 3 options are not exclusive and a resident can have a combination of them on the same plot should they wish to. Some may start with one option and then add others based on their budget and expanding needs that may come later)
1. Geodesic domes
The most affordable option is the building of a geodesic dome structure on a deck. This is also the quickest structure to put up and finish, which can be completed within 2 to 4 weeks. Dome structures have been used in building throughout the world for thousands of years and they are actually regarded as the strongest building shape able to withstand high velocity winds and deep snow cover so while they are affordable they are also durable and strong.
Geodesic shelters have been built in varied climates and have proven to be the strongest, lightest and most efficient means of enclosing space known to man, they are extremely strong for their weight due to their omnitriangulated surface that provides an inherently stable structure, with a natural resistance to external factors like earthquakes up to 8.5 on the Richter scale , winds up to 320 km/h due to the aerodynamic shape and loads up to 20 tonnes per point of structure.They are gaining in popularity again throughout the world especially for off grid sustainable living and eco-resorts.
The domes can be constructed in sizes from 9m2 to 170m2 per dome with the option to have multiple domes as well. The frame can be constructed from steel or timber and the covering either in 700 to 850 GSM UV stabilised pvc or double layer polycarbonate sheeting. These structures are easy to heat and cool and the interior can be partitioned and designed in a myriad of different ways as you can see below:
In larger domes you can also have a loft area:
These domes are well suited to the natural environment at the estate. All the necessary systems to support the dome house can be installed underneath and attached to the deck itself to make the home an independent unit. The vegetable garden and greenhouse can also be easily integrated into the design or can be done in a seperate greenhouse dome as well.
The spherical design of the dome results in highly efficient and effective air circulation in both summer and winter. Less surface area makes these buildings less susceptible to temperature changes, and thus, inexpensive to heat and cool as compared to regular homes. The aerodynamic exterior means that cold and warm air flows around the structure instead of forcing its way into the interior. They also mirror the suns path thus maximizing solar gain all day without needing to orient the dome towards north and they also distribute the heat uniformly within the structure. The energy therefore required to heat and cool a dome is at least 30% less than for a conventional building.
A number of different internal layouts can be configured as can be seen in the following examples from dome houses in different parts of the world:
70 sqm dome
250 square meter split level dome:
Costs for building a dome house including the deck and the finishes, kitchen and bathroom range between R2500 per square meter to R4500 per square meter depending on the dome structure material used, the covering type, the internal finishes etc and the cost per square meter does diminish as the size of the dome increases.
2. Prefabricated home on a double/triple axle trailer base
The second option which is midway in cost between a dome and the traditional home option is the prefabricated home which is built onto a trailer and towed onto site similar to the one below:
These structures have their benefits in terms of their ready availability and portability and being able to be moved off site in one piece should you choose to sell the unit at a later stage, however they do have their limitations in terms of the size and they are also very near the cost of a regular home at the top end of finishes. Nevertheless they do present a more solid structure option for those who are looking to build a small unit to live in either long term or until their regular home is built. These can be built and placed together with a dome house on a deck in a number of different combinations. They can also be incorporated visually into a regular house at a later stage or kept on the plot in a different location away from the main home as a granny cottage or home office.
Interiors can be done in a number of different ways as well:
They are constructed as a steel frame with wooden or isowall panel system for the remaining walls and roof structure and aluminium or pvc framed windows. Internal finishes are as a regular home with wooden flooring, built in cabinets and cupboards and the internal plumbing and wiring etc. Solar panels can be integrated or a standalone system.
The cost of these ranges between R250 000 to R650 000 and they can be made up to specification or bought from available stock. We expect stock of these to start becoming available later next year ان شاء الله ﺗﻌﺎﻟﯽٰ. They can be ordered however from the beginning of next year and built up according to the design needed. The effective cost per square meter ranges from R5500 to R15 000.
In this category are also some other prefabricated homes that we are aware of, we cannot endorse the financial integrity of any of these companies but they do have options which can be used at the estate such as the prefab units from blockhouse which can be seen here together with their pricing: https://blockhouse.co.za/modular-homes/
If you choose to go with one of these prefab companies you are welcome to discuss with us about placing one of these units on your plot.
3. Traditional stone, brick and glass homes
The third option is the structure described in other previous posts that the architects have developed for the estate which consists of stone structural walls, double glazed glass front and rear together with the decks and division of the homes main areas connected by glass walkways.
An example of what this would look like can be appreciated from this video below where a similar style was used:
The estimated building cost of these homes is between R8500 to R11000 per square meter inclusive of the kitchen cabinets, built in cupboards, bathrooms, wiring and plumbing, septic tank system, greenhouse, garage, decks, heating system, rainwater harvesting system, greywater recycling system, water storage tanks, electrical wiring and fittings but excludes the solar panels, inverter and batteries. This cost is less than the average building cost in South Africa when all this is factored in, however we are open to residents using their own construction team if they can build at a lower cost and the rules of the estate are adhered to with regards to safety for all the residents.
The home can be built in phases if one wants to first build a self contained flatlet type of unit and then later add a module for the kitchen and dining and another for the bedrooms. The benefit of going with this type of solid structure is primarily longevity and low maintenance and also better privacy especially for sound as the walls insulate sound better than other structures.
Residents can begin discussing which option/s they prefer at any time from where a final quote can be prepared based on the unique needs of each family ان شاء الله ﺗﻌﺎﻟﯽٰ
