PatchPlastic: from waste to wellness

Abstract

The PatchPlastic project, part of the Reality Studio course at Chalmers University, focuses on community-driven design within the Malusi community, an informal settlement in Pretoria, South Africa. Through a blend of frugal design principles, mapping of local waste materials, and participatory processes, the project aims to enhance resilience, circularity, and well-being at a local health clinic in Malusi. By involving stakeholders as community members, clinic patients, and staff, the PatchPlastic project addresses critical issues such as waterproofing the waiting space, sanitation improvements, and creating engaging spaces for children and adults. Educational aspects are a focus of the project and all interventions showcase innovative DIY-methods and multipurpose principles that can be adopted by the community. Realized interventions and possible future interventions are outlined in a Masterplan with three stages: the current situation, shortterm, and long-term. Realized interventions respond to the most urgent challenges of the current situation. This include a bench outside the main gate, a rain shelter, a children’s area and blackboards to share information and activate the kids. Short-term interventions include a composting center and gardening station, while long-term plans involve a flood-safe path and a market stall for selling garden produce. The project’s success lies in its ability to empower the community, foster ownership, and inspire sustainable solutions that resonate with the local context. As the project progresses, the hope is for the interventions to be utilized, maintained, and further developed by the community, leading to a lasting impact on the area’s well-being and sense of community