Tridealhouse: A smart home as a response to slum poverty

Tridealhouse was born out of the need to develop sustainable and affordable housing for people living in urban slums. The idea was inspired by disasters such as Hurricane Yolanda in the Philippines, which wiped out millions of homes. Michel Loots, an entrepreneurial mind with a background in medicine and economics, decided to combine his extensive knowledge from UN publications and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into a project aimed at structurally addressing poverty.

Michel dropped by (on a sunny day) at our SBE Café, and we were able to ask him a few questions about the social and sustainable importance of this global project and the collaboration with SBE.

Michel says: “I was looking for an engineering firm that could support us, and I had noticed that you were working on SDG projects.”

Together with Philippe Dierckx, Project Engineer at SBE, a housing concept was developed that is not only technically robust but also socially and ecologically sustainable. The houses are designed with a triangular structure, chosen for their stability and simplicity. This form makes it possible to build the construction locally with minimal resources, comparable to a self-build kit. The design takes into account climatic conditions such as wind and earthquakes and uses local standards based on the Eurocodes.

SBE is proud to support the Tridealhouse project, an innovative housing solution that addresses urban poverty in Ethiopia through sustainable, self-sufficient homes. Philippe explains: “A first prototype is now ready. It is the first ‘real’ house. I calculated this about three years ago. The steel structure is not yet fully optimized. The triangular shape of the house provides stability and earthquake resistance.”

Technical challenges

One of the biggest technical challenges was constructing a house that meets international standards, such as those of the World Bank. Collaboration with SBE was therefore crucial. Michel clarifies: “Your expertise and validation capacity gave the project the necessary credibility.”

During the construction of the first prototype, several insights emerged. For instance, some components needed to be welded, which caused rusting. This led to adjustments in the design and the choice of materials. Michel explains: “We want to switch to Magnelis steel, which is more resistant to moisture and heat. This also addressed the rust issue.” At the same time, the design was optimized to reduce the weight of the structure and simplify assembly. The concrete base was revised to accommodate a water tank, essential in countries with dry and rainy seasons. Water collection and storage are crucial for the self-sufficiency of the homes. In 2024, SBE optimized the steel structure for the second Tridealhouse prototype.

Philippe notes: “From the very beginning, the plan was to work with steel, partly due to the triangular structure. Concrete was considered but proved too thick and heavy.” The choice of steel enables mass production and aligns with the ambition to roll out the project globally. Michel adds: “The houses are designed to last 80 years with minimal maintenance, which is essential in contexts where rebuilding after 20 years is financially unfeasible.”

Social impact, sustainability, and self-sufficiency

Tridealhouse is more than just a housing project. It is a social, ecological, and economic model aimed at structurally tackling poverty. Michel calls it a “vaccine against poverty”, a solution that, once validated, can be replicated worldwide. The ambition was to help 2.1 billion people in slums by 2023, provided there is sufficient water and political stability. The UN predicts this will rise to 3.1 billion by 2055.

Michel explains: “It is fully about community empowerment. This has also been documented and proven. A survey of 100 residents confirmed that the assumptions we had for the project were 100% validated by the residents. Each rooftop garden provides residents with vegetables, ensuring food security while generating income. Two-thirds of the yield can be sold, making the homes partially self-financing.”

Tridealhouse therefore offers more than housing: it creates jobs, food security, and stronger communities. By integrating rooftop gardens, residents can produce food and generate income. This contributes to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 17 (Partnerships to Achieve Goals). Collaboration with partners such as SBE, Solar, and local authorities is essential to validate and scale the project. It also highlights the importance of reliable partners who dedicate their knowledge to social impact. “When experts collaborate with a shared goal, we can build solutions that change lives.”

Education and local engagement form an important part of the concept. Through training, YouTube videos, and sensors, proper installation, maintenance, and monitoring are ensured. Local employment is encouraged by involving people from the slums in the construction and maintenance of the homes.

In the long term, Trideal Houses aims to demonstrate that a hamlet—a small community of self-sufficient homes—can be economically viable. They will include shared gardens and social spaces, creating resilient, self-sufficient urban villages. “If this succeeds, the project can be scaled worldwide,” Michel notes. Ethiopia was chosen as the starting location due to the government’s openness and the presence of the African Union. The project already has a framework agreement with the largest construction company in Ethiopia and enjoys the support of the Ministry of Urbanization.

The project emphasizes modularity and local production, allowing communities to assemble their homes themselves. This creates jobs and builds local capacity. Philippe explains: “SBE worked closely with Ethiopian engineers and architects to ensure effective knowledge transfer and context-specific design.”

For companies and engineers who want to contribute to socially impactful projects, the message is clear: “Know your own DNA and use your expertise to solve real-world problems. Tridealhouse proves that with the right partnerships and know-how, sustainable change is possible.”

“Collaboration with SBE is a powerful example of how technical knowledge and social responsibility can go hand in hand.” — Michel Loots, Founder of Tridealhouse

We would like to sincerely thank Michel and Philippe for taking the time to explain the Tridealhouse Project to us, and we wish them every success!

This was covered in the media.

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