November 2025 Issue 1PROJECTSFROM VARIOUS SCHOOLSOF ARCHITECTURE IN KENYA
02 UBUNIFU - 2025Article
UBUNIFU - 2025 03Creativity flows from here.From hands that shape clay and minds that sketch cities, this is design drawn from the source ; African, intentional, and alive. Like water, creativity moves through generations, spilling beyond boundaries, softening old forms, and carving new paths. This magazine is not a showcase , it is a current. Step in.UBUNIFU - 2025 03
04 UBUNIFU - 2025Article
UBUNIFU - 2025 05Maiden ProgrammeUbunifu selects students based on their potential, not just academic performance, offering them mentorship and opportunities to realize their potential. The programme emphasizes developing ground-breaking solutions for challenges in our built environment, creating spaces that celebrate user identity and dignity and are inclusive, sustainable, and reflective of the communities they serve. Central to Ubunifu is harnessing of new technologies, such as Generative Design, Data Modelling, 3D printing, AR and VR. Through hands-on experience, mentorship, and collaborative projects, the programme equips students with the tools and knowledge to make an impact in the architectural field.The Ubunifu Student Programme is rooted in innovation and disruption in architecture, initiated by BOOGERTMAN AND PARTNERS. It challenges participants to transcend conventional design solutions; a culture of Uexperimentation that questions the status quo.BUNIFUROOTED IN INNOVATION AND DISRUPTION IN ARCHITECTURE
06 UBUNIFU - 2025ArticleThe BriefIntroductionCelebrating the identity of a place and the dignity of its occupants, while allowing for flexibility in design for additions to the homes depending on the growing of family sizes, it'sneeds, and financial flexibility, mixed social neighbourhoods are possible even when they begin as an affordable housing project.Affordable housing could quickly degenerate to ghettos if place making principles thatencourage ageing-in-place are not implemented.To encourage retention despite the vertical mobility in social status, homes, rather thanhousing, must be created, celebrating the genius loci of the neighbourhoods in question.Celebrating the identity of a placeAffordabdegenermakingencouramplemeTo encouvertical homes, rhousing,celebratneighboAdmeiTvhhcnCotnpArticleImage: Effekt - urban village
UBUNIFU - 2025 07The BriefCelebrating the identity of a place and the dignity of its occupants, while allowing for flexibility in design for additions to the homes depending on the growing of family sizes, it'sneeds, and financial flexibility, mixed social neighbourhoods are possible even when they begin as an affordable housing project.The BriefIntroductionUbunifu 2024 sets out to reimagine these pockets of oasis across the city on infill plots, with the potential to inspire the neighbouringdevelopments, and help dilute the mono-social strata of Nairobi neighbourhoods based on income levels. It could be the beginning of true economically inclusive housing in Nairobi.Architects have a responsibility to not only design dignified housing, but also pay respect to the location, using its prevailing character tohighlight its identity. This will be a source of pride for its occupants, encouraging them to want to remain in the neighbourhood, and improve its shortcomings with pride. As such, not only architectural but urban design principles are necessary in influencing the spirit of a place and the pride of its residents. It is the thin line between affordable and dignified living.Participants are requested to imagine the possibility of a one acre dignified neighbourhood located along Ngong Road, Nairobi. As aninfill plot withing a middle income neighbourhood, with direct access to public transport, and centrally located to job providing industries,participants are requested to propose functioning neighbourhood designs, and take a moment to explore the basic housing unit that can grow from a single shop and living unit, to a 2/3 bedroom family unit with increasing financial flexibility.The proposed designs should respect the following design principles, while proposing alternative materials and building technologies.1. Land as a limited resource in Nairobi2. Water and its perenial scarcity3. Resilience to climate change and adverse weather4. Versatility of homes and housing5. The city as a living organism
08 UBUNIFU - 2025ArticleWestlands (UoN and TuK)Ngong Road (JKUAT and KU)
UBUNIFU - 2025 09Contents What’s in this magazine14 - 25Suka HeightsStephen NgóngáA transformation of invasive water hyacinth into sustainable building materials, creating socio-economically inclusive housing inspired by local weaving techniques.44 - 61Built from MemoryMary ThengeAn exploration of what urban architecture would look like with more vernacular influence.28 - 41Sanaa MtaaniLeon MuchugiaArchitecture by the People. Architecture for the People.
UBUNIFU - 2025 10Contents What’s in this magazine41 - 58ENEAKimingi JosephENEA is a student village that leverages high-rise incremental construction to give students an affordable living environment that they can continuously appropriate across their entire lifecycle.64 - 73Ngong TerracesHussein SudiWhat if cities weren’t about moving faster, but living closer?71 - 82Interconnected social incubatorsKogi JaneroseSocial incubators are innovative high-rise structures that breathe life into modular units by fostering community, creativity, and connection through shared social, cultural, and collaborative spaces.
Contents What’s in this magazine102 - 117Urban SalamaObuya AchiengDesign isn’t neutral.Whose lives does it serve?UBUNIFU - 2025 11
09 UBUNIFU - 2025Hold your horses...for just one second...waywe\"We weren’t here to prove we could design, only to find out what happens when we stop designing the way we were told to.\"\"We weren’t here to prove we could design, only to find out what happens when we stop designing the way we were told to.\"\"We weren’t here to prove we could design, only to find out what happens when we stop designing the way we were told to.\"\"We weren’t here to prove we could design, only to find out what happens when we stop designing the way we were told to.\"\"We weren’t here to prove we could design, only to find out what happens when we stop designing the way we were told to.\"\"We weren’t here to prove we could design, only to find out what happens when we stop designing the way we were told to.\"12 UBUNIFU - 2025
UBUNIFU - 2025 13Artist: ToroWorkplace: Boogertman and Partners
Creativity is a divine giftI honor it by shaping spaces that tell a story. With each line I draw, Suka Heights rises. What was once imagined now reaches for the sky.\"14 UBUNIFU - 2025
UBUNIFU - 2025 [email protected] Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT)UBUNIFU was the genesis of all the incredible experiences I had at BOOGERTMAN + PARTNERS. It brought together a team of brilliant minds and young creators, all eager to share their knowledge of the design world with us.Balancing my final year with participation in the program, my primary goal was to have fun and explore creative possibilities in an environment filled with some of the industry’s best. As the weeks progressed, the sense of competition faded, and we embraced the true essence of teamwork. That was the goal: BOOGERTMAN + PARTNERS collaborating with students in the architectural field to sharpen their skills in research, abstraction, implementation, presentation, and collaboration.I am deeply honored to have been part of it all. It was not only a valuable learning experience but also an opportunity to form meaningful friendships during the many sessions we shared. With guidance and coaching from the Boogertman team, I had the exhilarating opportunity to experience Virtual Reality for the first time during my final presentation; an unforgettable moment of growth for me.In the end, the program taught me to push my limits, compete with myself, and unlearn in order to relearn from everyone around me.Thank you, BOOGERTMAN + PARTNERS, for an awesome experience.StephenNgóngá
HeightsArticle Suka16 UBUNIFU - 2025
01. ContextArticleUBUNIFU - 2025 17Design Approach:To realise this vision, we adopted key design principles aligned with the programme's objectives:• Place-making: Creating vibrant, inclusive, and functional urban spaces that foster a sense of community.• Socioeconomic Diversity: Accommodating a range of income groups to ensure equitable access to housing.• Adaptive Housing: Designing units that evolve with users’ changing needs, acknowledging the scarcity of land and water in central Nairobi.• Climate Responsiveness: Employing design strategies that address climate change and allow the new neighbourhoods to integrate seamlessly into the existing urban fabric.Objective:The 2024 UBUNIFU Programme aimed to re-imagine small, under-utilised spaces in Nairobi, Kenya, to create affordable housing under the theme: “Dignified Densification.”
02. Context03. Concept18 UBUNIFU - 2025Harvesting water hyacinth from Lake VictoriaSlicing the hyacinth strands and sun-drying them to enhance their strengthArticleLocal use of hyacinth as a material
03. ConceptUBUNIFU - 2025 19This concept unites the project’s objectives, themes, and design principles, which are expressed in the building’s form. Inspired by the weaving of Lake Victoria hyacinth into furniture and basketry, the façade reinterprets this craft while integrating diverse socioeconomic groups into its fabric. The result is a powerful, culturally resonant narrative that engages passers-by along Ngong Road.WeavingSlicing the hyacinth strands and sun-drying them to enhance their strengthSpinning the dried hyacinth fibres into sturdy, rope-like threadStrengthening the fibres with an aluminium-sulphate treatmentArticle
20 UBUNIFU - 202504. Site Forces ArticleConcept sketch of Suka Heights’ cascading sky gardens – slender, vegetation-rich terraces that rise in staggered layers, threading greenery through the vertical neighbourhood and turning every level into a shared pocket of nature.
UBUNIFU - 2025 21ArticleAs the building approaches Ngong Road, it steps down in scale, harmonizing with the street level and enhancing its integration into the existing urban environment.In addition to addressing climate change through the incorporation of green spaces on the terraces and rooftop, the design transforms these areas into vibrant social hubs. This approach fosters placemaking, promotes inclusivity, enhances user retention, and instills a sense of community pride.The darkest shade of brown represents the highest-income earners, with the gradient transitioning to indicate lower-income groups. Higher-income residents enjoy views of the Nairobi Royal Golf Club, while lower-income residents face Ngong Road, where vibrant business opportunities are concentrated.
Article 05. FeasibilityCore, curtain wall, landscaped balconies and hyacinth façade stack around a central structural spine. The quick drawing distils the whole story – environmental logic, social zoning and material narrative – onto one digestible, studio-red silhouette.Hand-sketch concept section. 22 UBUNIFU - 2025Adaptive LayoutsTo accommodate diverse, ever-evolving family sizes, needs, and financial capacities, the design integrates modular systems that allow incremental growth and customisation of ffoor plans at minimal cost. Sleeping, washing, living, storage, cooking, and balcony zones can all be expanded or reconfigured as required.
ArticleUBUNIFU - 2025 231. 12mm thick Plaster on oilBased paint finish.2. Fibre meshReinforcement on ecoBoard.3. 1220x2440x18 thick. WaterResistant ecoboard.4. Anti-termite treateddried water hycinthInsulation.5. 50x50mm recycledPlastic battens.6. 100x50mm recycledplastic studs.7. 1220x2440x18 thick. WaterResistant ecoboard.8. Dried & treated waterHycinth thatch to framing grid with hooksto architect's approval.9. Custom inclinedrecycled plastic beam.10. 50x100mm recycledplastic batten anchor.11. Bottom plate.12. Titen hd heavy dutyanchor screw on expoxyconcrete adhesive to s.edetail.
Article Virtual Reality Presentation24 UBUNIFU - 2025
UBUNIFU - 2025 25
Pause, let this breathe for a moment...Design became real when we stopped trying to impress and started trying to understand.Design became real when we stopped trying to impress and started trying to understand.26 UBUNIFU - 2025Design became real when we stopped trying to impress and started trying to understand.Design became real when we stopped trying to impress and started trying to understand.
UBUNIFU - 2025 27Artist: ToroWorkplace: Boogertman and Partners
56 UBUNIFU - 2025 28 UBUNIFU - 2025
UBUNIFU - 2025 29I want to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude for the invaluable experience I’ve gained through Ubunifu and the time spent around Boogertman's offices in Nairobi. Being in such an inspiring environment, surrounded by architects and designers pushing boundaries, has profoundly shaped my architectural growth. Seeing how ideas evolve into impactful spaces has reinforced my passion for design that is not only functional but also deeply connected to people and place.My concept of 'Sanaa Mtaani' was helped shaped by the office, and explores the intersection of architecture, culture, and community empowerment. It is rooted in the idea that design can be a catalyst for social and economic transformation, creating spaces that honor local craftsmanship while providing opportunities for growth. Inspired by the lessons I’ve learned at Boogertman, this project seeks to bridge the gap between architectural practice and the everyday realities of urban communities.Thank you once again for the inspiration and mentorship. I look forward to continuing these conversations and finding ways to collaborate in the [email protected] University of KenyaLeonMuchugia05
Article30 UBUNIFU - 2025
UBUNIFU - 2025 31SANAAMTAANI A project for social and environmental sustainability in KenyaIn Nairobi’s rapidly evolving urban fabric, time often feels like a race; a relentless march of glass towers and steel monuments trying to outpace the city’s memory. Yet nestled quietly in a high-income zone is a project that doesn’t seek to conquer time, but to honor it. Sanaa Mtaani, Swahili for Art in the Streets, is not just an architectural intervention; it’s a recalibration of time, space, and dignity for those whom society too often asks to wait endlessly.Conceived as part of the Ubunifu project, Sanaa Mtaani is built around the idea that architecture can be a bridge between rehabilitation and reintegration. It offers housing, creative practice spaces, and economic opportunities to Nairobi’s vulnerable populations, specifically, those aged 18 to 45 who are seeking a second chance. These are individuals in need of shelter, healing, and purpose, and this project gives them all three.“The future shouldn’t just belong to the fastest or the wealthiest,” says the designer. “It should be built with, and for , those who have been paused by life.”The site, located in one of Nairobi’s affluent neighborhoods, becomes a gentle provocation: what if we used land not only for profit, but also for people? What if time spent on the margins of society could be repurposed; not as wasted, but as formative?The architectural response is both human and humble. A modular frame structure allows for adaptability and growth, while earthen materials, rammed earth and hand-pressed bricks, root the design in place and memory. These materials breathe with the environment, offering passive thermal comfort and reducing the building’s ecological footprint. More than sustainability, the approach speaks to time in layers: earth as history, brick as effort, structure as potential.Spatially, Sanaa Mtaani refuses the high-rise logic of the city center. Instead, it opens up, creating courtyards, gardens, and shared spaces that nurture community and creativity. It doesn't shout for attention; it listens. It doesn’t claim to erase poverty with design, but it carves out time, time to heal, learn, and rebuild.In doing so, Sanaa Mtaani becomes more than a shelter it becomes a clock of transformation. A slow, intentional architecture that gives value to every hour spent in growth.Sanaa Mtaani, Swahili for Art in the Streets, is not just an architectural intervention; it’s a recalibration of time, space, and dignity for those whom society too often asks to wait endlessly.
Article32 UBUNIFU - 2025 69,000Dimensions of our site + massing. THE CASCADING ‘SANAA MTAANI’ BUILDINGONE AFRICA PLACE BUILDINGABSTRACT REPRESENTATION OF THE BUSTLING ROAD + STREET(RHAPTA ROAD)
UBUNIFU - 2025 33SINGLE UNIT PROGRAMVOIDSVolumetric program analysis + circulation. Two, three story buildings that facilitate ‘Sanaa Mtaani’.
Article34 UBUNIFU - 2025 WeightCost Per Unit Thermal ConductivityEnvironmental Impact Heat CapacityAcoustic InsulationStrengthEnergy ConsumptionADOBERAMMED EARTHCOBMAKUTIMABATIAdobeRammedEarth WeightCost Per Unit Thermal ConductivityEnvironmental Impact Heat CapacityAcoustic InsulationStrengthEnergy ConsumptionWeightCost Per Unit Thermal ConductivityEnvironmental Impact Heat CapacityAcoustic InsulationStrengthEnergy Consumption
UBUNIFU - 2025 35Researching Local Building Materials Through a Comparative MatrixMabatiCOBMakutiWeightCost Per Unit Thermal ConductivityEnvironmental Impact Heat CapacityAcoustic InsulationStrengthEnergy ConsumptionWeightCost Per Unit Thermal ConductivityEnvironmental Impact Heat CapacityAcoustic InsulationStrengthEnergy ConsumptionWeightCost Per Unit Thermal ConductivityEnvironmental Impact Heat CapacityAcoustic InsulationStrengthEnergy ConsumptionAs part of my ongoing exploration of sustainable and context-driven architecture in Kenya, I developed a material matrix comparing five locally available materials: Adobe, Rammed Earth, Cob, Makuti, and Mabati. The goal was to analyze how each material performs across critical parameters such as cost, durability, thermal comfort, maintenance, and environmental impact.The matrix became a powerful tool for understanding trade-offs: for example, while Makuti is low-cost and highly sustainable, it has a shorter lifespan, whereas Mabati (corrugated steel) is durable but environmentally costly. Materials like Rammed Earth and Cob offer a middle ground, providing thermal comfort and longevity when detailed properly.This study was about more than numbers; it was a way to spark conversations on how traditional and modern materials can be layered or combined to create architecture that is affordable, climate-responsive, and culturally rooted.
Article36 UBUNIFU - 2025 Plan Variant 1Plan Variant 1Plan Variant 3
UBUNIFU - 2025 37CONCRETE FRAMEPAVILION ROOF FRAMESHOLAR SHADINGWINDOW CASINGSOLAR SHADINGSTRUCTUREPRIVACY+SHADINGBAMBOODESIGN EXPLODED
Article38 UBUNIFU - 2025
UBUNIFU - 2025 39
Article40 UBUNIFU - 2025
UBUNIFU - 2025 41
Even the wind pauses before it changes direction...If you don’t know who you’re designing for, no amount of rendering will make the space honestIf you don’t know who you’re designing for, no amount of rendering will make the space honest42 UBUNIFU - 2025If you don’t know who you’re designing for, no amount of rendering will make the space honestIf you don’t know who you’re designing for, no amount of rendering will make the space honestIf you don’t know who you’re designing for, no amount of rendering will make the space honest
UBUNIFU - 2025 43Artist: SarinaWorkplace: Aga Khan High School
44 UBUNIFU - 2025
[email protected] of NairobiMy project is a unique exploration of how traditional African architecture would mesh in an urban context. It was inspired by my love for African art and music. During my stay at Kasigau Base Camp, hosted by Chris Campbell, I had the opportunity to experience living in a traditional African hut for two weeks from the perspective of an aspiring architect. This allowed me to understand that tradition serves as a catalyst, it initiates transformation but does not always remain visible in the final outcome. \"African art and music is naturally maximalist and bold. I believe African architecture should embody the same sentiment, loud and unapologetic, balanced with logic and control. For this presentation, I experimented with an architectural presentation style I had never seen before, one that truly reflects who I am as an artist. I like to imagine this as one of the many ways African architectural drawings should be represented, with bold character and flamboyance.\"MaryThengeTradition is the catalyst. If it isn’t loud, it isn’t African architecture. Maximalist spirit in urban formBeing a part of the Ubunifu Program was a transformative experience. It became a space of boundless exploration and creativity, where we gathered to share our discoveries and engage in deep discussions about the challenges within the built environment. The guidance we received was invaluable, sharpening not only our design thinking but also our ability to present with clarity and confidence. As a deep introvert, I found myself stepping beyond my comfort zone, growing in ways I never anticipated. More than just skills, I gained friendships, bonds woven through shared learning and collaboration. To any student seeking growth, innovation, and connection, this is a path worth taking. And to my Ubunifu-mates, it was a pleasure experiencing this program with you.\"UBUNIFU - 2025 45
46 UBUNIFU - 2025ArticleIs there space for impressionism in architectural presentations? The collages I made play a key role in expressing how I see the challanges in our urban environment. The issues, open to interpretation, as portrayed in the collages are as follows; Land as a limited resource in Nairobi, Water and its perennial scarcity, Resilience to climate change and adverse weather, Versatility of housing and finally, The city as a living organism. What can you see in the image above?In this collage, every age group is represented. The life everyone lives is the same, but our experience of it changes as we grow older. How would you imagine a place to grow old? Is it calm or vibrant? Is it social or introverted? Is it all of the above? Software used: Morpholio. Images sourced from unsplash.comSeeing Beyond the PlanImpressionism in the City:
In today's architectural landscape, new programming tools have revolutionized the way we approach site analysis, offering unprecedented precision automation, and data-driven insights.On the more artistic side, Processing enables creative visualizations of site data but lacks the depth for detailed architectural site applications.The future of these tools lies in the integration of AI, which holds immense potential to automate and enhance site analysis by generating real-time insights on environmental factors like solar radiation, wind patterns, and terrain optimization.However, these AI capabilities are still evolving and must be tailored to meet practical design needs in architecture.Aino, specifically, presents extensive information about the buildings around the site, hospitals in the area, malls in the area, schools in the area, roads and circulation, a 15-minute walk simulation around the site, and much more.UBUNIFU - 2025 47
48 UBUNIFU - 2025Article
UBUNIFU - 2025 49
50 UBUNIFU - 2025ArticleFINNIMORE (RAMMED EARTH)This technique involves mixing soil and water at a ratio determined by the type of soil and ramming it into a mold. After all the air has escaped and the soil is stable, the mold is removed and the process continues and the product is a solid rammed earth wall. The method was inspired by traditional mud-building practices that advocate for impermanence in architecture.SUPERADOBE (EARTHBAGS)A sandbag or dirtbag is a bag or sack made of hessian (burlap), polypropylene or other that is filled with sand or soil. Superadobe is a form of earthbag construction that was developed by Iranian architect Nader Khalili using layered long fabric tubes or bags filled with adobe to form a compression structure.INTERLOCKING STABILIZED SOIL BLOCKSThese are Compressed Stabilized soil Blocks fashioned in a mold that produces an interlocking system like Lego Blocks, with a soil-to-cement ratio of 1:6. The development of hydraulic presses and other mechanical equipment made it possible to compress soil into uniform blocks with greater consistency and strength.MOSS CEMENTIt is made by mixing recycled cement with moss spores to get a self-sustaining mass that can attach to vertical surfaces. Moss doesn’t have roots so it doesn’t damage the structural integrity of a building and is anchored to the building by rhizoids. The advantages are that it absorbs carbon dioxide, it cleans the air and regulates temperature.Material Research