Kibera Public Space Project
A community-led initiative that created flood control systems, bridges, and shade pavilions for residents and their businesses.
Initiator(s)
Kounkuey Design Initiative (KDL)
Description
Design interventions oriented to sustainably revitalize one of the largest informal settlements in Sub-Saharan Africa. The group of Harvard School of Design students partnered with residents, local design students, private sector experts and government officials to build a flood control system, a bridge to open a circulation route and a shade pavilion to accommodate more than 200 residents and their income-generating activities. Each enterprise contributes a percentage of their profits to site maintenance.
Goals
Reinforce sustainability: social, economical and environmental.
Beneficial outcomes
Productive public space, and income-generating activities. Several community-based groups have been created, and construction is ongoing.
Location
Kenia
Users
Kounkuey Design Initiative, Inhabitants of Kibera, Buro Happold, Knyan Architecture Firm, volunteers.
Maintained by
Eco-Build Africa
Duration
2006 - ongoing
Category
Scientific
Pedagogical
Politics
Urban Development
Economy
Environment
Social
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