As cities like Cape Town continue to grow, innovative solutions for housing and transportation are becoming critical. Parking spaces, often considered a necessity, consume valuable urban land that could be better utilized. This project proposes transforming a single parking space (2.5 x 5 meters) into a microhome, creating sustainable, self-sufficient living spaces that prioritize people over cars. Designed for urban nomads, these units offer privacy, safety, and comfort while ensuring access to amenities within the city. By repurposing land currently allocated to parking, this approach challenges car-centric infrastructure and promotes denser, more sustainable, off-grid communities integrated with public spaces.

The Concept: Cities for People, Not Cars
Rapid urban growth in cities like Cape Town has led to inefficient land use, rising transport costs, and a heavy reliance on cars. Many households spend over 40% of their income on transportation, underscoring the need for alternative mobility solutions.

By converting parking spaces into micro-apartments, this project presents a model for high-density, pedestrian-friendly urban living. It reclaims underutilized spaces and fosters connectivity between housing, public transport networks, and shared mobility systems. This shift promotes social interaction, reduces carbon emissions, and alleviates strain on urban infrastructure by optimizing limited city space.

Approach and Strategy:
- Transforming Parking Spaces into Housing: A modular, compact, and sustainable housing solution.
- Integrating Public Transport and Shared Mobility: Discourages private car ownership, promoting walkability, cycling, and transit access.
- Sustainable, Off-Grid Living: Passive design strategies, renewable energy, and prefabrication reduce environmental impact and enhance affordability.
- Micro Living on a Macro Scale: Expanding the concept to entire parking lots, creating vibrant high-density communities.

Key Features:
- Compact, Modular Design: Optimizes space while ensuring functionality and comfort.
- Sustainable Building Materials: Bamboo cabinetry and repurposed textiles for an eco-conscious approach.
- Off-Grid Capabilities: Solar energy, rainwater harvesting, and composting toilets for resource-efficient living.
- Flexible Interiors: A modular core maximizes storage, working, and living areas.
- Urban Infill Development: Supports pedestrian-friendly cities by reclaiming car-dominated spaces.

Repurposing Textile Waste:
Beyond housing and transportation, the project addresses textile waste. The rise of fast fashion has led to environmental and social issues, with discarded clothing ending up in landfills or being dumped in countries like Ghana. This project incorporates upcycled textiles as an internal building material, converting shredded post-consumer clothing into thermal and acoustic insulation panels. These panels, crafted by local communities, provide a sustainable, circular solution while enhancing energy efficiency and soundproofing.

Challenges:
Designing a fully functional home within a parking space while ensuring comfort, privacy, and sustainability for a young professional couple was a key challenge. Integrating high-performance sustainable features within budget constraints required creative material selection and modular construction techniques. Additionally, shifting the urban mindset away from car dependency toward sustainable mobility solutions remains an ongoing challenge for many cities.

Results:
The Cities for People, Not Cars microhome presents a visionary urban housing solution, proving that cities can become more people-centric by repurposing car-dominated spaces. By integrating housing with efficient public transport, pedestrian networks, and mixed-use developments, this project envisions a more connected, environmentally responsible urban future. This microhome is not just a dwelling; it is a catalyst for reimagining sustainable, livable cities where people take precedence over cars.