The #GC2022 finalists are out! Read more.

search
×
menu
login
donate
Kambimoto housing
Nairobi, Kenya
Written by:
follow
share on:mail linkcopy link to clipboardShare via LinkedInShare via TwitterShare via FacebookShare via Facebook
In-situ upgrading of slum dwellings focused on incremental housi

image: lukewperry | CC-BY-SA_black.png some rights reserved
i
Category:
urban planning
Phase:
in use
Design:
Tecta Consultants
Updated:
14 May 2012
introduction

The Kambimoto project is the result of many years of diligent work by Pamoja Trust, in partnership with Muungano wa Wanavijiji, working in the Mathare Valley slum, on the northern edge of Nairobi. Once completed, approximately 70 units of new housing will replace the previous substandard housing located on site. The construction of the project began in 2003, and the first 34 units were completed in 2005. Another 20 units were completed in 2009, and the rest are yet to be completed. The new housing is incremental, where each family is provided with a basic one-bedroom, one-story space with a small sink and bathroom that could eventually be expanded vertically up to three stories.

cultural and social context

One of the goals of this project was to shift the power and decision making process to the community members themselves Another goal was to ensure that they would be able to remain on the land they had lived on for years, but then also remain in the new houses years once they were completed.

In many ways, the completion of actual housing units, is only one very small part of this project. The community building and engagement process began in 2000, while construction didn’t commence until five years later. Pamoja and Muungano spent a significant amount of time understanding the community dynamics through an intensive process. Central to this process was enumerations, which collected information from each community member. Additionally, they worked with community members to develop savings schemes, whereby each person would contribute a small amount of money each month toward a down payment on their future homes. It was through this process that Pamajo and Muungano recognized that both structures and tenants have rights – a rare acknowledgement. As a result, all future homeowners were able to agree that everyone would get the same size starter house. In addition, because of the organization, funds saved, and clear plan developed, Pamoja was able to convince Nairobi City Council to grant land tenure to the community. Without this, the new housing could be deemed illegal, and would face many of the uncertainties that the rest of Nairobi’s informal settlements deal with.

read more >
< read less
materials and building techniques

In the Kambimoto project, Pamoja Trust used some technology developed for slum upgrading in India. Using small, precast pieces of concrete, the technology not only makes a sturdy house, but is also something that can be done by local community members. There was a mini-fabrication tent where the individual pieces were pre-fabricated. Skilled masons led the overall construction, which consisted of pre-case pieces, cast in place columns, and concrete blocks. Community members were trained in all of these processes.

The strength of the new materials also added other benefits. Once the first floor was completed, most people had a rooftop, where they could hang clothes, raise rabbits, grow plants, and gather. This was never the case with the corrugated metals shacks most of them inhabited before.

earth and climate

The connection to land cannot be understated in the Kambimoto project. This project’s main goal was to secure tenure to land that these community members were already living on. Additionally, this project ensured that those living on this particular plot of land could actually remain there, as opposed to moving to new housing somewhere else.

From a climate standpoint, the thermally massive materials of concrete and block create a much more temperate and comfortable house to live in compared to the ubiquitous metal shacks that define Nairobi’s slums.

image gallery
2008-2011: changes

image: lukewperry | CC-BY-SA_black.png some rights reserved
i
2008-layout

image: lukewperry | CC-BY-SA_black.png some rights reserved
i
2008-gates

image: lukewperry | CC-BY-SA_black.png some rights reserved
i
2008-rooftops

image: lukewperry | CC-BY-SA_black.png some rights reserved
i
2008-unfinished stairs

image: lukewperry | CC-BY-SA_black.png some rights reserved
i
2008-rooftop

image: lukewperry | CC-BY-SA_black.png some rights reserved
i
2008-house1

image: lukewperry | CC-BY-SA_black.png some rights reserved
i
2008-floor construction

image: lukewperry | CC-BY-SA_black.png some rights reserved
i
2008-floor construction2

image: lukewperry | CC-BY-SA_black.png some rights reserved
i
2008-training

image: lukewperry | CC-BY-SA_black.png some rights reserved
i
2008-construction blocks

image: lukewperry | CC-BY-SA_black.png some rights reserved
i
2008-construction

image: lukewperry | CC-BY-SA_black.png some rights reserved
i
2008-construction

image: lukewperry | CC-BY-SA_black.png some rights reserved
i
2008-old/new

image: lukewperry | CC-BY-SA_black.png some rights reserved
i
2008-fabrication/training space

image: lukewperry | CC-BY-SA_black.png some rights reserved
i
2008- precast beams

image: lukewperry | CC-BY-SA_black.png some rights reserved
i
2011-facade

image: lukewperry | CC-BY-SA_black.png some rights reserved
i
2011-facades

image: lukewperry | CC-BY-SA_black.png some rights reserved
i
2011-entry

image: lukewperry | CC-BY-SA_black.png some rights reserved
i
2011-street

image: lukewperry | CC-BY-SA_black.png some rights reserved
i
2011-additions

image: lukewperry | CC-BY-SA_black.png some rights reserved
i
2011-bedroom

image: lukewperry | CC-BY-SA_black.png some rights reserved
i
2011-kitchen

image: lukewperry | CC-BY-SA_black.png some rights reserved
i
2011-side street

image: lukewperry | CC-BY-SA_black.png some rights reserved
i
2011-street

image: lukewperry | CC-BY-SA_black.png some rights reserved
i
technical drawings
Kambimoto- Unit Ground Floor

image: Tecta Consultants | © all rights reserved
i
Kambimoto- Unit First Floor

image: Tecta Consultants | © all rights reserved
i
Kambimoto- Unit Second Floor

image: Tecta Consultants | © all rights reserved
i
Kambimoto- Front Elevation

image: Tecta Consultants | © all rights reserved
i
Kambimoto- Section

image: Tecta Consultants | © all rights reserved
i
Location
show earth plate boundarieshide earth plate boundaries
Explore more inspirations
Keyword:
community practice (113)
development cooperation (44)
informal settlement (69)
low income (29)
prev
  •  education
    Kutamba AIDS Orphans School
    Bikongozo, Uganda
  •  housing
    MUKWANO HOME
    Rakai, Uganda
  •  housing
    A Casa de Abuela Cuentacuentos
    Escobilla, Mexico
  •  urban planning
    Grameen Bank Housing Project
    Dhaka, Bangladesh
  •  housing
    Casa Chuy
    Leon, Mexico
  •  education
    Canteiro Móvel | Mobile Hands-on
    Botucatu, Brazil
  •  meeting place
    LOCAL COMUNITARIO A.F. 10 DE JULIO
    LIMA, Peru
  •  health & sanitation
    Shanmen Public Bathhouse
    Tianshui Gansu, China
  •  health & sanitation
    Roche health center
    Roche, Tanzania
  •  meeting place
    (CON)VIVENCIAS
    Lima, Peru
  •  housing
    Nqibikan Village Reconstruction
    Yogyakarta, Indonesia
  •  health & sanitation
    Green (Rose) Toilet in Mukuru Slums, Nairobi
    Nairobi, Kenya
  •  meeting place
    Forgotten Spaces; from Rust to Revival !
    Cairo, Egypt
  •  housing
    Pamoja Shell of Steel Housing
    Nairobi, Kenya
  •  education
    Qinmo Village Project
    Huaiji, Guangdong Province, China
  •  meeting place
    laTren - elNodo Participatory Cultural Center
    Saltillo, Mexico
  •  education
    Thon Mun Community Centre
    Takeo, Cambodia
  •  education
    Makoko Floating School
    Lagos, Nigeria
  •  meeting place
    Esperanza
    El Cabuyal, Ecuador
  •  housing
    House of Plenty
    Nijmegen, Netherlands
  •  infrastructure
    The Informal-formal Bridge
    San Martín de los Andes, Neuquén, Argentina
  •  meeting place
    Community House & Conservation Garden - RED Dream project
    Ta Phin - Sapa, Vietnam
  •  housing
    Colón 36
    Castuera, Spain
  •  infrastructure
    Taxi Rank
    Magagula Heights, Katlehong, South Africa
  •  education
    Bridge school
    Xiashi Village, China
  •  health & sanitation
    BioCenter
    Kibera, Kenya
  •  education
    Kargyak Learning Center
    Kargayak, India
  •  education
    Kwel Ka Baung school- phase II
    Mae Sot, Thailand
  •  infrastructure
    Infrastructure to support the indigenous community
    Santo Angelo, Brazil
  •  housing
    Ciudadelas de Paz - Building for Peace
    Manaure, Cesar, Colombia
  •  health & sanitation
    COMMUNITY COOKER
    Nairobi, Kenya
  •  religion & memorial
    BAMBOO CHURCH
    yogyakarta, Indonesia
  •  education
    P.S. 216 Edible Schoolyard
    New York , U.S.A.
  •  meeting place
    Socio-Cultural Center
    Bobodioulasso , Burkina Faso
  •  education
    College Mixte Le Bon Berger
    Montruis, Haiti
  •  meeting place
    Women's center
    Rufisque, Senegal
  •  meeting place
    Palomino, Building a Society.
    Palomino, Colombia
  •  meeting place
    Project Row Houses
    Houston, U.S.A.
  •  education
    MOVING school 002
    Mae Ramat, Thailand
  •  education
    Play-doh : Early years education in rural India
    Bhiwandi, India
  •  meeting place
    Chiwiñas Shadows
    El Alto, Bolivia
  •  meeting place
    Le 56 / Eco-interstice
    Paris, France
  •  education
    Silindokulhe Community Hall
    Port Elizabeth, South Africa
  •  recreation & sport
    Vertical Gymnasium
    Caracas, Venezuela
  •  meeting place
    R-Urban
    Colombes, France
  •  housing
    Itakura Core House
    Momonoura, Japan
  •  housing
    E.V.A. Self build eco-village
    Pescomaggiore, Italy
  •  housing
    New Gourna Village
    Luxor, Egypt
  •  urban planning
    Santo Community Development Plan
    Leogane, Haiti
  •  education
    Upgrading of Nile River School
    South of Giza governorate, Egypt
  •  housing
    Preparing for Xincun Residential Update
    KunMing, China
  •  education
    Kusikuna Eco-Active School
    Apote - Tiquipaya, Bolivia
  •  housing
    Casalata
    Mindelo, Cape Verde
  •  housing
    vrijburcht
    Amsterdam, IJburg, Netherlands
  •  education
    Temporary Classrooms for Migrant Schools
    Mae Sot, Thailand
  •  infrastructure
    living root bridge
    Mawlynnong, India
  •  education
    METI school
    Rudrapur, Bangladesh
  •  recreation & sport
    Million Donkey Hotel
    Prata Sannita, Italy
  •  housing
    BAMBÚ SOCIAL
    El Rama, Nicaragua
  •  meeting place
    TibA'uwe
    Bom Jardim, Brazil
  •  religion & memorial
    Pilgrim Route
    Jalisco, Mexico
  •  education
    Incubadora Social ITESM-Bancomer
    Leon, Mexico
  •  housing
    Sankofa House
    Abetenim, Ghana
  •  housing
    Incremental collective housing
    Neak Loeang, Cambodia
  •  housing
    Rehabilitation for a resettlement area in SocTrang
    Soc Trang, Vietnam
  •  education
    MOVING school 001
    Mae Sot, Thailand
  •  meeting place
    CASA ENSAMBLE CHACARÁ
    Pereira, Colombia
  •  meeting place
    Jabu Centre
    Siteki, Swaziland
  •  education
    Gando Primary School
    Gando, Burkina Faso
  •  education
    Library of Muyinga
    Muyinga, Burundi
  •  education
    Silindokuhle Preschool
    Port Elizabeth, South Africa
  •  meeting place
    Sidi Amor’s eco-village for arts and crafts
    Ariana, Tunisia
  •  education
    Habitat initiative cabo delgado
    Cabo Delgado, Mozambique
  •  meeting place
    Making Space in Dalston
    London, United Kingdom
  •  urban planning
    Reclaiming Community Commons through DIT Toolkit
    Chennai, India
  •  meeting place
    Slovo Hall.
    Johannesburg, South Africa
  • play
     meeting place
    Casa Comunal de la Isla de Portete / Ecuador.
    Portete, Ecuador
  •  education
    Fuji Kindergarten
    Tachikawa, Japan
  •  education
    A Kindergarten in Ropi
    Ropi, Ethiopia
  •  housing
    Masoro Village Project
    Masoro, Rwanda
  •  meeting place
    LA CUADRA: Social Production of (In)formal Parks
    Cuenca, Ecuador
  •  education
    MOVING school 003
    Mae Sot, Thailand
  •  education
    Plug+Play School
    Izmir + Torbali, Turkey
  •  education
    The Yangri Hope Project
    Yangri Village, Nepal
  •  housing
    Rehabilitation of Thao
    Sun-moon lake, Taiwan
  •  housing
    Arquitectura en Altura
    El Alto, Bolivia
  •  education
    Pani community centre
    Rajarhat, Bangladesh
  • play
    GC2022 finalist
     agriculture & fisheries
    La Villa Pesquera del Crash Boat
    Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
  •  education
    Luzira School
    Kampala, Uganda
  •  education
    Senior Citizen’s Library
    Bhatpore Village Surat, India
  •  housing
    Post-typhoon reconstruction
    Hsinchu, Taiwan
  •  meeting place
    El Tr3bol de Ciudad de Cali
    Bogotá, Colombia
  •  education
    Sra Pou Vocational School
    Sra Pou, Cambodia
  •  housing
    Granby Four Streets
    Liverpool, United Kingdom
  •  meeting place
    El Faro de Mapasingue
    Guayaquil , Ecuador
  •  health & sanitation
    Warka Village Cameroon
    Cameroon
  •  education
    Tikau Village House
    Odisha, India
  •  meeting place
    Multipurpose Room COVEMV
    Morelia, Mexico
  •  meeting place
    Tulou renovation
    Longyan City, Fujian, China
  •  education
    Hostels for girls, Iringa region, Tanzania
    Iringa region, Tanzania
  •  meeting place
    Favela open library/ School of Favela Architecture
    Maceio, Brazil
  •  housing
    Rural Bayview Village
    Bayview, U.S.A.
  •  meeting place
    Custody House Of Memory
    Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia
  •  emergency shelter
    Living Tebogo
    Johannesburg, South Africa
  •  education
    EDAYA indigenous crafts and design school
    Baguio, Philippines
  •  meeting place
    House of Dreams
    Zhoushan village, China
  •  health & sanitation
    Safe Haven Bathhouse
    Ban Tha Song Yang, Thailand
  •  education
    School by the Lagoon
    Maligakadu, Sri Lanka
  •  urban planning
    Parque El Óvalo - Pamplona Alta (Lima, Perú)
    Lima, Peru
  •  emergency shelter
    Soe Ker Tie House
    Ban Tha Song Yang, Thailand
  •  education
    SAL Exhibition Pavilion/Learning by Making
    Ahmedabad, India
  •  education
    Maosi primary school
    Maosi, China
  •  education
    Majuli School / GENERATING RESILIENCE
    majuli, India
next