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Exploring the adoption of 3D printed concrete for social housing in South Africa: a socio-technical and political economy perspective
This study examines the potential of 3D printed concrete (3DPC) to help address South Africa's social housing crisis. Although 3DPC has advanced globally, its local adoption remains limited, raising questions about the socio-economic, political, and institutional factors shaping its diffusion. The r...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English English |
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Graduate School of Business (GSB)
2026
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| _version_ | 1869483651211722752 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Essa, Nabeela |
| author2 | Auerbach-Jahaheeah, Jessica |
| author_browse | Auerbach-Jahaheeah, Jessica Essa, Nabeela |
| author_facet | Auerbach-Jahaheeah, Jessica Essa, Nabeela |
| author_sort | Essa, Nabeela |
| collection | Thesis |
| description | This study examines the potential of 3D printed concrete (3DPC) to help address South Africa's social housing crisis. Although 3DPC has advanced globally, its local adoption remains limited, raising questions about the socio-economic, political, and institutional factors shaping its diffusion. The research employs an interpretivist, inductive design using expert interviews to explore how society–technology relations may evolve in this context. Findings highlight opportunities for rapid, affordable housing delivery but also reveal barriers including land access, regulatory uncertainty, procurement constraints, labour displacement risks, and cultural resistance. The study makes both practical and theoretical contributions. Practically, it proposes a sequenced implementation roadmap that combines demonstration projects in social infrastructure with targeted incentives and reskilling initiatives. Theoretically, it applies and extends the integrated approach of Atteridge and Weitz (2017), combining Technological Innovation Systems (TIS) and Political Economy Interpretive (PEI) frameworks within the broader Political Economy of Technology (PET) lens. In doing so, the study refines an established methodology for application in construction and social housing, advancing inclusive innovation scholarship whilst offering insights into the conditions shaping the adoption of 3DPC in South Africa. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/43341 |
| institution | University of Cape Town (South Africa) |
| language | English eng |
| last_indexed | 2026-07-01T04:02:23.102Z |
| license_str | Not specified — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| publisher | Graduate School of Business (GSB) |
| publisherStr | Graduate School of Business (GSB) |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| spelling | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/43341 Exploring the adoption of 3D printed concrete for social housing in South Africa: a socio-technical and political economy perspective Essa, Nabeela Auerbach-Jahaheeah, Jessica inclusive innovation 3D printed concrete social housing South Africa political economy of technology technological innovation systems political economy interpretive framework This study examines the potential of 3D printed concrete (3DPC) to help address South Africa's social housing crisis. Although 3DPC has advanced globally, its local adoption remains limited, raising questions about the socio-economic, political, and institutional factors shaping its diffusion. The research employs an interpretivist, inductive design using expert interviews to explore how society–technology relations may evolve in this context. Findings highlight opportunities for rapid, affordable housing delivery but also reveal barriers including land access, regulatory uncertainty, procurement constraints, labour displacement risks, and cultural resistance. The study makes both practical and theoretical contributions. Practically, it proposes a sequenced implementation roadmap that combines demonstration projects in social infrastructure with targeted incentives and reskilling initiatives. Theoretically, it applies and extends the integrated approach of Atteridge and Weitz (2017), combining Technological Innovation Systems (TIS) and Political Economy Interpretive (PEI) frameworks within the broader Political Economy of Technology (PET) lens. In doing so, the study refines an established methodology for application in construction and social housing, advancing inclusive innovation scholarship whilst offering insights into the conditions shaping the adoption of 3DPC in South Africa. 2026-06-22T09:33:55Z 2026-06-22T09:33:55Z 2026 2026-06-22T09:04:28Z Thesis / Dissertation Masters MPhil http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43341 en eng application/pdf Graduate School of Business (GSB) Faculty of Commerce University of Cape Town |
| spellingShingle | inclusive innovation 3D printed concrete social housing South Africa political economy of technology technological innovation systems political economy interpretive framework Essa, Nabeela Exploring the adoption of 3D printed concrete for social housing in South Africa: a socio-technical and political economy perspective |
| thesis_degree_str | Master's |
| title | Exploring the adoption of 3D printed concrete for social housing in South Africa: a socio-technical and political economy perspective |
| title_full | Exploring the adoption of 3D printed concrete for social housing in South Africa: a socio-technical and political economy perspective |
| title_fullStr | Exploring the adoption of 3D printed concrete for social housing in South Africa: a socio-technical and political economy perspective |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring the adoption of 3D printed concrete for social housing in South Africa: a socio-technical and political economy perspective |
| title_short | Exploring the adoption of 3D printed concrete for social housing in South Africa: a socio-technical and political economy perspective |
| title_sort | exploring the adoption of 3d printed concrete for social housing in south africa a socio technical and political economy perspective |
| topic | inclusive innovation 3D printed concrete social housing South Africa political economy of technology technological innovation systems political economy interpretive framework |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43341 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT essanabeela exploringtheadoptionof3dprintedconcreteforsocialhousinginsouthafricaasociotechnicalandpoliticaleconomyperspective |