Eco-Park and Cultural Village
A client of ours is keen on building an eco-park th...read more
at taps into the business of conservation. It is quite a strategic idea as it targets contributing to adding diversity to the City of Kigali. As it stands, the City is begging for diverse encounters that attract a mix of hospitality, recreation, education and a retreat-like experience.
Recently, the Nyandungu Urban Wetland Eco-Tourism Park was opened, providing a breath of fresh air in this direction. The proposed eco-park, that is to sit on 150,000 sq.m, whereas a fraction (12.5%) of Nyandungu, is not small either. In addition, it is located within 15km of Nyandungu in an up-and-coming neighbourhood.
The following images of the proposed eco-park showcase some key ideas we are exploring with the developers of the project. These ideas are expressed in two key questions as follows: How can an urban landscape contribute to telling a story? and; How can a design brief harness the potential of a project?
Urban landscapes especially those that we can hold on to are very key in sustaining our relationship with nature. The proposal emphasises this in a scheme that minimises its building footprint (2.2%), buildings that embrace the slope, and spaces (or landscapes) that are intertwined to foster a seamless relationship between the outdoors and indoors; all the while targeting a densely forested eco-park - a getaway for all any day of the week for which different stories can be told.
We are also committed to the principles of urban design, in particular, the value of a well-developed project brief in as far as guaranteeing business promise, neighbourhood transformation, and sustainability. The project brief, therefore, is an intricate synthesis on the one end of hospitality, recreation, education, and conservation and on the other laying strategies for flora and fauna on display for key purposes linked to experiential themes for visitors.
Team : Alex Ndibwami, Fred Manzi Karasira, Shem Kabenge, Mathias Uwamahoro, Irénée Isingizwe, Alain Ntwali, Roger Pacifique Kwizera
Mixed Use
