KARONGI, RWANDA — In a bold eco-friendly move, the Karongi Housing Project built 11 of the 384 promised homes… and delivered the remaining 373 as downloadable PDFs.
The decision aligns with the country’s new “Minimalist National Vision” strategy, in which national disappointments are rebranded as visionary success. “They’re not failures,” one official explained, “they’re part of the vision.”
“384 houses were paid for, and 384 were received, albeit the form,” said Director General of the Rwanda Housing Authority, Alphonse Rukaburandekwe. “Who says we can’t have PDF houses? They’re more rock-solid than cement. It’s innovations like these that will make Rwanda Africa’s science hub. We’re planning to commission 150,000 more PDF homes by 2035, finally ending homelessness in Rwanda.”
The PDF homes, described as “fully built in theory,” come complete with cement, wood, roofing, and a floor plan, all visible in crisp high-resolution files. Once downloaded, residents are encouraged to hold the file in their hands, imagine themselves inside it, and instantly teleport into their new home.
“If PDF housing takes off, we could see construction costs collapse,” said Prof. Manlio Michieletto from the University of Rwanda’s Department of Construction Management. “Why build with bricks when you can just zing into a downloaded home?”
However, the housing revolution has hit a minor glitch. After downloading their PDF homes and visualizing life inside, many residents report they’re still stuck in their current apartments. “I might sue the PDF if I don’t get teleported soon,” one hopeful homeowner warned.