OFF THE
Embedded in mountainside of the rural village of Kigutu, Burundi the 18bed Village Health Works Staff Housing is a romance between East African
elemental aesthetics and inventive off-the grid sustainability.
C
utting a skewed line in the terrain, the 6 000 square foot dormitory captures
breathtaking mountain views. Currently rebuilding after many years of horrific civil
strife, the villagers hope that this housing will create a model for the sustainable future
of both the community and the country.
Porous porches
To encourage the Kigutu outdoor communal culture, the oversized public porch doors
seamlessly connect inside and out, welcoming all who enter. Similarly the private
sleeping rooms, each with its own personal vividly colored entry porch, echo this semipermeable sensibility. The porosity of the porches encourages sociability, enhances
airflow into the adjacent sleeping rooms, and frames magnificent unobstructed transverse views of the
landscape.
Sustainable strategies
The same elemental design moves that establish its aesthetics will also advance its sustainability. Since
Kigutu is 100% off the municipal grid, a nearby solar array and local solar water heaters exclusively
power the housing. Sited partially below grade, the location of the building both reduced excavation costs
and takes advantage of the earth’s natural insulation for temperature control. Eliminating the need for
air conditioning, the personal porches create three-sided natural ventilation within the bedrooms. The
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africandesignmagazine.com