Son of the soil has a ‘light house’

Cape Town - Herbalist !Xoma Aob has everything he needs around him in his eco-friendly “light house” perched on the slopes of Hangberg in Hout Bay.

From the top storey with its breath-taking views of the bay, where he and his wife Fiona sleep, he can keep an eye on his horses grazing below, the dogs in the yard and even see who is coming up to the front gate.

If he needs something from his vegetable garden, all he does is reach out with his hand.

The vertical garden on the north facing wall has an array of leafy greens, tomatoes, herbs and seedlings of indigenous trees thriving in recycled plastic pipes. It is covered by polycarb to keep out the wind.

“I’m also growing wild plums, berries, spinach and aloe which is good to treat eczema,” he says.

There are stables below for his horses and he has built two extra rooms below the house using recycled material from a landfill nearby.

There is a living area with plenty of windows to let in light, and a bathroom and kitchen area.

“I’m also creating a kraal with huts where backpackers can come and sleep over and learn about our way of life.”

The design of the Light House was a collaboration between Aob, Stephen Lamb and Andrew Lord of Cape Town design company Touching the Earth Lightly.

Aob said that in 2013 the city council had wanted to move him and his neighbours to a temporary relocation area (TRA) while the city made plans to build houses on the land. “But I refused to move into a ‘box’ so the only way was a land swop.”

That was how he moved onto a portion of land that was once part of the dump and where his horses used to be kept.

He says he asked the city for cement, a chainsaw and a fence so he could start building. Instead, Aob says, they brought Steve (Lamb). But Lamb turned out to be just the man for the job.

“Steve listened to everyone’s side and we all gave ideas.”

He said people he didn’t even know became involved and helped build the house, which last year won an eco-innovation award. “The structure uplifts your self-esteem and gives encouragement to others. It makes you want to pass it on to others.”

Video by: Nabeelah Mohedeen 

Solar energy and recycling are also contributing to sustainable living in Hangberg.

Four structures have been built with metal and wood donated by film company Moonlighting, from the set of Homeland which was shot in Cape Town last year.

A new section of Barry Pretorius and Jacqueline Arendse’s home is lit up using plastic bottles, which are connected to a solar panel.

Pretorius explains that the solar panel on the roof charges a battery which powers four LED lights inside the plastic bottle containing water. There is also an inverter on the battery, which allows them to charge their cellphones.

The battery supplies around 10 hours of light. Arendse says the light is bright enough to light the area outside the house as well so it was easy and safe to find your way home at night.

UCT science students helped with the circuit boarding and installation of the lights while the Liter of Light Foundation in Switzerland helped with funding.

CAPE ARGUS