T
he design responds both to its site on a hot, dry hillside and to the tight
budget required by the client. Each bedroom has its own private exterior
space facing the views of the valley to the west with large overhangs
for rain and heat protection. The bedrooms are connected to the shared
bathrooms and common spaces with a covered and screened exterior
walkway. The eucalyptus screen wraps around the uphill side of the
house providing a sense of enclosure and privacy for its residents and
also a connection to more traditional ways of building.
All the construction materials were sourced from within Rwanda,
with most coming from the neighbouring areas. Local stone was quarried for all
foundations and walkways. A neighbourhood women’s cooperative was employed to
make all the handmade bricks for wall construction. A ventilated roof cavity is clad
with clay tiles for thermal and acoustic performance.
In order to help support the local economy, approximately 90% of the labour was
local to the poor and rural village of Rwinkwavu, and women represented a minimum
of one third of the staff throughout construction.
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Sharon Davis, the founder of Sharon Davis Design, describes the project as “more
than a dormitory for doctors and nurses, this project means that staff not only live
closer to the hospital – saving time and money – but quality housing near the hospital
will boost morale, enhance connections between staff and community and will, we
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