DESIGNA MAGAZINE DESIGNA ISSUE III 2019 2 | Page 24

From the Architects:
The project consists in 14 apartments in Tudor
Creek, Mombasa-Kenya. Characterized by a
mushrabiya structural shell, it is distinct with its
search for privacy and optimized natural
ventilation and light. With our vision, the
apartments benefit from the experience of
outdoor living, contact with nature and the
integration of the surroundings into each private
home.
· Rainwater collection, driven by water scarcity.
· Solar-heated water for energy saving.
Local, long lasting materials
The plot's slope and its narrow shape guided our
design to minimize the building's impact. The
steep drop towards the creek, on the lower part
of the plot, was saved with three distinct and
unique patio houses, stepped one into the other.
On top of filtering light, the patios allow
ventilation via permeable wood lattices facing
Requirements / Situation
Constraints
The project seeks to maximize the scenery from
within and outside the apartments, notably via
terraces and balconies and explore
environmental strategies including:
· Naturally aerated spaces: passive cooling.
· Well-lit spaces, a challenge, as light must
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come in without the sun heat.
D E S I G N A
| May
-
June 2019
the water. They are accessible via lateral stairs
that descend towards the creek, passing by an
integrated gym at the bottom, and arriving to an
infinity pool. A measured distance from the
neighbors and the road give the building a well-
weighted impact, for it to be present but not
overwhelming in the scenery. This way, the
apartments block, enveloped with its protective
skin, rises facing the road, overlooking the
creek, and topped with a penthouse.