Proposal for a housing unit in Tanzania | Studio 2111

The project proposal is the answer to a competition announcement launched by the archstorming platform. the object of the competition was the design of a home for a family of 15 and growing. Specifically, the request was to have an open but private space, an indoor kitchen with pantry and an attached open space for the outdoor kitchen, a large living room and bedrooms that could accommodate no more than three beds.

The extreme climatic conditions of Africa, the difficulty of supplying materials and the lack of funds for construction are all elements that the construction technology proposed solve.
All the shapes proposed comes from a modified Nubian compass that according to a careful design, allows freedom in architectural expression. Today the ease of learning of the technological system accessible to all, it means that the entire system is fully part of the technologies of self-construction for a new social model, based on respect and collaboration: as between bricks, so between the individuals.
The use of massive materials give a thermal inertia to the construction suitable to give the necessary comfort. The curved walls favor the inside convective motions guaranteeing the perfect operation of the fireplace effect. This effect is also increased by using some little ventilation tower on the upper of the domes which is closed by an aluminum panel that allows the hot air go out. The natural shading of the courtyard, the optional external plasters (clay-earth or cocciopesto plaster) guaranties other comfort. Moreover natural lighting no longer occurs only in the usual directions; here it is received, picked up, channeled into every point is necessary.
The position chosen avoid immediately demolishing the existing houses to use it during construction, so it can take place more slowly, according to the economic possibilities. The house will have a portion close to the area neighborhood passage and a more intimate portion on the behind, delimited by the existing tree and by a perforated wall next to which to place the cattle.
The central courtyard is a space for an open but private environment that contributes to the natural ventilation and cooling of the whole house. The key word is “flexibility”. The house can be built according to separated construction phases, guaranteeing its functional autonomy. The partition inside the twin rooms maintains privacy despite the many beds. Kitchen and food storage have a double access and outside there’s a kitchen area, near the cattle. The living room, that during ceremonies can be extended using the courtyard, has a direct exit outside.
The toilets drain into the dispersion pit (optional compost toilet), with falling water from a tank placed on the cylinder and covered with a black cloth that attracts the sun's rays to have hot water. The domes, made entirely of 30x18x8cm cooked brick, rest on stone foundations.