TwistBlocks

Sustainable, affordable and fast construction with TwistBlocks!

We sell TwistBlocks in our local factories

TwistBlocks

Lower construction costs – faster construction completion: Certified by Kenya Bureau of Standards

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Fewer building materials and shorter construction time means lower construction costs.

FIRE SAFETY

Cement blocks are naturally fire resistant and offer extra protection in densely populated areas that are prone to fires.

FLEXIBLE FLOOR PLANS

The wall segments can be folded steplessly to maximise the available space, particularly important for irregular site conditions such as those in informal settlements.

IMPROVING LIVELIHOODS

Twistblocks are manufactured in Kibera informal settlement, Nairobi by local people. Opening a manufactory in your neighbourhood can improve the livelihoods of people in your community too.

MORTAR FREE WALLS

The interlocking block design means no mortar is necessary to bind the courses, making Twistblocks up to 10 times faster to build with than conventional bricks.

DECONSTRUCTABLE & REUSABLE

Walls are easily dismantled and up to 80% of the blocks can be recovered for reuse.

Resources for your

Building

Economics

The Start Somewhere TwistBlocks offer many advantages compared to standard masonry construction without being more expensive. Due to the clean finish there is no need for plastering.

Advantages

Why you should use TwistBlocks

TwistBlocks

2,500

per m² finished wall

Positions:

Labour

Title

15%

Title

85%

SSW Twistblocks

Standard Plastered Masonry

3000

per m² finished wall

Positions:

Labour

Title

30%

Mortar

Title

22%

Formwork

Title

Steel / Concrete

Title

23%

Plaster

Title

25%

Stones

REUSABILITY

of the TwistBlocks and therefore total ownership.

CLEAN FINISH

no need for plastering.

BUILDING SPEED

up to 10 times faster than standard masonry.

A combination of functionality and design.

Curved walls allow a maximum use of plot with multi-storey capability combined with asthetic and clean walls.

Flexibility – build, dismantle, reuse – everywhere

Changing circumstances can be easily addressed by the flexibilty of TwistBlocks. Dismantling, reusing and expanding are key features to fulfill a wide range of specific needs.

Outstanding design – modern elegance in every environment

The building technique offers the possibility of building round walls, so the building can meet almost every requirement.

Functionality – tangible benefits at lower costs

The TwistBlocks high-tech functionality includes fire safety, isolation and temperature management at lower costs than regular houses.

Our expertise

Includes construction especially in informal housing environments and slums

Houses

Sanitary facilities

Landscape design

Schools

The construction method has proven to work.

Start Somewhere’s pilot project – the construction of a school building for 400 children inside Kibera Slum, Nairobi – was realized in 2020 during COVID-19 crisis within the given framework both technically and financially. It was planned and coordianted remotely from Germany and built by residents of Kibera under the guidance of Start Somewhere.