The role of urban innovation in African cities

“Cities are at the heart of humanity's future. By the end of the century, 90 out of the biggest 100 cities in the world will be in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. These cities are the arenas where the next era of humanity will be built. They’re where the vast majority of citizens will live and where the most important decisions will be made about what our societies become.” - Utopia

In an interview with Kanyinsade Ademuson , CEO of SeventhSpace, we talked about the role of urban innovation and why it's needed to address housing demands on the continent.

This article has been edited for style and length.

What is urban innovation?

Kanyinsade: Urban innovation is a forward thinking approach to city development with humans in mind. Urban innovation uses design and construction processes to improve the human experience in real estate spaces. Modular construction is a form of urban innovation that applies unconventional construction rules to buildings that can exist in any space. Modular offices can be designed with the same specifications used for conventional office buildings.?

Why is it important for African cities to embrace urban innovation?

We cannot continue to show up late to the innovation party or lag behind in the race to the future. But the road to embracing innovation is long because the continent is no stranger to socioeconomic challenges. Most African countries need to innovate around power supply, water management and distribution, real estate infrastructure, and interconnected road networks. The demand for affordable housing in congested African cities is rising and we need to build quickly to manage population growth and internal migration.?

Who are the key stakeholders that contribute to urban innovation in African cities?

The government is the biggest stakeholder followed by the people themselves. Private sector players operate in the middle and rely on policies created by the government and market demands driven by the people.

How do government policies affect housing developers and city dwellers? What trends will drive Africa’s urban future?

Housing policies designed with people in mind will create an enabling environment for innovative city planners and developers. Zoning regulations, for example, can be used to separate vibrant commercial areas from quiet residential spaces and mitigate the spread of congestion in busier zones. Government-backed housing agencies must collaborate with innovative developers and construction companies to build liveable cities and spaces.?

What opportunities exist for different stakeholders to partner with innovators and entrepreneurs shaping African cities?

From a housing perspective, entrepreneurs and innovators need to figure out how to build more; it’s a broad approach that can be broken down into mass-marketing housing initiatives and ambitions. The housing crisis - on a local and global scale - will not be solved by one person or a single business entity– solutions must be designed using an ‘all hands on deck’ approach. Emerging architects and construction operators must work with the government - at any level - to develop policies, housing budgets, and city planning campaigns to drive supply, demand, and profitability in our industry.