MASTERPLAN RESIDENTIAL AREA on Mount Elgon
Location: Mount Elgon (western Kenya)
Client: Mount Elgon Orchards & Habitat for Humanity
Date: 10-2010
Size:
Description
The owners of Mount Elgon Orchards were seriously concerned about a good outcome of the village-project which they initiated with Habitat for Humanity. This event was the catalyst for an application to Back2Africa for assistance. As an architect within the foundation I am responsible for all construction projects and urban planning.
The request from Kenya was a perfect opportunity to graduate within a research and design project on Mount Elgon. The biggest problem of the project was that a contract was signed, for 120 homes within 2 years, which would be provided by Habitat for Humanity. They were now 10 months into the project, and had only two dwellings, which were already close to collapsing.
I started by created a new urban design, the sketch made by Habitat had a confusing and uneconomical design. The owners had a clear idea about what they expected of the plan and what had to be adjusted. After the design was corrected, I focused on the project planning, costing, organization, engineering and the different house typologies that would be realized. In the end, the production of the houses had increased to 10-15 per month and the costs had been reduced with 25%. On departure, 30 houses were completed and as you can see in the pictures, many more have been realised since then.
As seen in the pictures, the project is almost completed and we are currently working on an application for a design to place a community centre. This was already taken into consideration while in the design phase. As was the positioning of the village chief and some small shops to encourage small local businesses.
If you are interested the research or other end-products of this project please send an email by clicking on the logo on the main page. You will receive the download link asap via email.