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Cultural
Commercial
Architecture
Interiors
Planning
Human Needs Project – Kibera Town Centre
Nairobi, Kenya
Early Conceptual Infrastructure Diagram
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Meeting basic needs and providing opportunities for personal and social improvement, the Kibera Town Centre project is transforming life in the heart of Nairobi’s largest slum. Community engagement in its development and operation, the use of modular design, and a sustainable approach to operations make it a replicable model to address similar challenges around the world. What began with a drive to bring potable water to the area spawned the creation of a service hub for a community in need. Leveraging simplicity and flexibility, the design accommodates programmatic needs from laundry and toilet facilities to education, basic banking, and access to Wi-Fi, all housed in a two-story building on a 4,200 square foot site. The facility provides access to services for a community ranging from 200,000 to 1 million people. Together, these integrated services create a holistic solution to the challenges of living in a slum, providing a place for community, sustainability, and innovation. Funded by a diverse range of partners, the project belongs to the community, with hundreds of people using the facility daily. An informal group of three dozen community leaders informed the design and programming of the complex. All materials are locally sourced, and 360 residents have been trained to build, manage, and maintain the building, reinforcing community investment in its success.
Its sustainable design helps control operating costs. A self-contained wastewater system uses old plastic bottles and sand filters to treat waste, producing “gray water” for irrigation and toilets. To provide potable water, the team drilled 1,000 feet, reaching a previously untapped aquifer. Forty photovoltaic panels on the roof heat water, with 100+ additional panels planned to produce 35kW of electricity. The structure itself is designed to withstand a Level 7 earthquake. The design ensures every inch can flex for multiple purposes and future uses through a plug-and-play blocking method. At ground level, a courtyard welcomes individuals with a market for locally grown produce, a cafe, and a savings and credit co-op, whose managers live in the community. Also on this level are 13 toilets, 25 showers, and a laundry room with five stations for handwashing and two washers and dryers – all services are financially accessible to the community. The mezzanine houses the adult education classrooms, cybercafé, lending library, and art studio. Since its opening, the Centre has met increasing demand by filling in mezzanine spaces to host an array of community events. With new programs such as the streetlight initiative now being implemented, Kibera Town Centre has proven to be a catalyst for change and an instrument for personal improvement and success as it strives to achieve 10 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. This project is gaining attention and aid from the Red Cross, the Rockefeller Foundation, the World Bank, and the Kenyan government as a model for addressing global human needs.
General Contractor
Redhorse Constructors
Architect of Record
Ebrahim Consultants
Structural Engineer
Bruce King Structural Engineering
Structural Engineer of Record
Nucleus Consultants
Waste Water Management Consultant
Questa Engineering Corporation
Energy Analysis
Renewable Appropriate Energy Lab UC Berkeley
Solar Systems
Davis & Shirtliff
Electrical Engineering
Summit
MEP Engineers
Syldon & Partners
Interior
Turner Duckworth
By The Numbers
Composition
Since 2015, there have been 2+ million customer transactions, 1+ million toilet and shower uses, 5+0 million liters of water distributed, and $450K in total revenue.
Down to the Details
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