22 africandesignmagazine . com
The toilets are sealed pit latrines that block the organic matter leaking and furthermore underground water and soil contamination . The school is designed to accommodate 300 children per time , but at the moment it is serving about 800 children as both an ECD centre and pre-primary school .
ASA , short for Active Social Architecture , represents the belief and commitment to the social value of architecture . The young practice , based in Kigali , Rwanda , works with different clients such as local and international NGO ’ s , social enterprises , UN agencies focused on both local and global communities . ASA designs in close collaboration with all of them to achieve quality and excellence in architecture , concentrating on elements that improve people ’ s livelihoods , strengthen and empower communities and their sense of identity .
Projects and built works reflect ASA ’ s belief in the richness and complexity of schemes drawn from , and responding to , the specificities of sites , programs and users bringing innovation through spatial composition , and the adaptive use of local materials and techniques .
Architecture is understood as a creative means to problem solving , providing cost effective solutions that are attractive , affordable and improve upon the existing environment .
Design is approached in a holistic manner and seeks to add value to community-based projects both in Rwanda and abroad . In order to have a strong base developed , each and every project is rooted on a research by design , based in findings that come up from the same communities , the vernacular architecture and an intense research of precedents and context .