Studio People

Studio People solves the polycrisis of 6,6 million unhoused people, unsustainable building materials and 59% youth unemployment in South Africa by offering circular, net-zero and open-source furniture boards and prefabricated housing panels named, TexiBoards. The very people who suffer from living in shack dwellings and unfurnished homes in flood-stricken areas are the centre of our creative problem-solving. Just having a roof over your head is not enough. A home must shield you from weather, be functional for daily living and never compromise on durability, no matter where you live or how much you earn. However, building materials contribute 37% to greenhouse carbon emissions and are the biggest cost barrier causing unsafe and undignified living conditions. We have designed a recyclable and multiple-usage building material that can be produced using small-scale manufacturing and repurposes fashion waste. It aims to replace wood-based boards in walls, floors and furniture. Acting as a unifier in all essential stakeholders to solve the housing crises and bring sustainable innovation to revive township businesses in construction and furniture-making. Our goal is to create an egalitarian and sustainable urban environment, helping shack dwellers and youth out of poverty. We empower the underdog. Including people and businesses, to co-create solutions in our fight against the housing crisis, unsustainable building materials, and unemployment - one board at a time.