location of the window openings also
creates a natural stack effect that amplifies
the airflow. The extended roof overhangs
provide solar protection to optimize the
use of natural daylight, while French
drains distribute runoff rainwater for
irrigation. Yet the greatest efficiency is
the human efficiency. The villagers, using
local bricks, manually built the housing,
eliminating the need for fuel consuming
machines and creating transferrable job
training skills for members of the entire
Kigutu community. AD
LOCATION: Kigutu,
Burundi
CLIENT: Village Health
Works
ARCHITECT: Louise
Braverman (Design
Principal: Louise
Braverman, Design
Team: John Gillham,
Jing Liu
PROJECT TYPE: 18 bed
staff housing
CONTEXT: 100%
off the grid, 40-acre,
mountainous rural
village located about 2.5
hours by vehicle from
Bujumbura, the capital
of Burundi. Burundi is
one of the five poorest
countries in the world
SIZE: 6 000 square feet
PHOTOGRAPHER:
Iwan Baan
i
36
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STRUCTURAL DIAGRAM USED TO FACILITATE COM