THE PROJECT
The village
Maji Moto is a village in the Arusha region. It was established around 1973 when the Maasai tribe decided to settle down there for the first time. Maji Moto is home to roughly 1200 people, 800 of which are children. The climate is relatively dry, although during the rainy season there is abundant rainfall to provide crops for the whole year. Agriculture and keeping of livestock are the main economic activities in the village. However, a growing number of mainly men have recently started emigrating to the big cities in order to be able to adequately support their families financially.
At present, the community lacks any form of public transport to the village, leaving them very isolated. Nor is there currently any health care system in place, reducing the people’s possibilities to receive health care even further. Individuals thus often rely on local medicine, which has little to no effect.
Dispensary
shops
private houses
public building
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what: health centre
BUDGET: €20 000
PERIOD: JULY-OCTOBER 2018
WHERE: mAJI mOTO, ARUSHA (tz)
CURRENT STATE
floor plan
axonometric view
The foundations for the building have already been finished and so have both the perimeter and internal walls, strengthened by a ring beam of reinforced concrete. However, currently it finds itself in a state of disrepair. The building’s dimensions are 12 metre by 24 metre and it consists of an area of 288 square metres.
The original project includes a distribution of the rooms that may vary slightly with the new program.
the challenge
The traditional Maasai mud houses have been replaced by fired bricks, which are strong and easy to use, but unfortunately also cause environmental damages because of illegal deforestation.
Environmental education is needed to educate the population on the importance of sustainable building techniques and materials.
This is why we have set out the following goals for this project:
- Finding a suitable way to build using soil.
- Using a new technique called compressed stabilized earth blocks (CSEB).
- Training local fundis to become independent and making sure that they themselves increase the quality of the architecture and the environment in which they live.
why?
Compressed
stabilized
earth
blocks
IN ORDER TO AVOID
FIRE
BRICK
ceramic
roof
tiles
Due to the influence of big cities, and the mass production of roof sheets, the traditional Maasai homes covered with banana leaves and grass have been replaced by this new easy-to-use and waterproof material. However, these roof sheets also have disadvantages, such as the fact that during hot months the interior of the buildings reaches very high temperatures because of the solar radiation that this conductive material absorbs.
By using ceramic tiles instead, we aim to promote local businesses, local labour and the use of a renewable raw material such as soil.
why?
IN ORDER TO AVOID
STEEL
ROOF
SHEETS
THE DESIGN
already built: foundations and walls
to build: roof structure, floor, toilets, water tank,
finishing details
technique: compressed earth blocks
design: doctor's compound ( 3 houses)
EFFICIENCY: water collection, phytodepuration, solar
panels
We find ourselves with a building that has been designed and thought out in a way that we are not familiar with; so for us, the challenge lies in conceptualising a roof for something that is already there.
The project strategy is based on the use of compressed earth bricks to provide the structure of the roof; creating sloping walls on which the wooden beams will rest. As we are committed to avoiding the use of roof sheets, ceramic tiles will be manufactured on-site. Their thermal mass will limit the sun's heat during the dry months. The roof also serves as a means to collect water, which will be stored in a tank. This is also included in the design.
The new building consists of an entrance fitted with a small patio. This will offer ventilation and light to the structure’s darkest rooms from the previous design.
The dispensary is divided into two parts. One is allocated for the treatment of women and men. The other serves as a paediatric and maternity ward, fitted with delivery and postpartum rooms. This area has another patio, which is central to all of the rooms.
The installation of solar panels has also been outlined, in a bid to make the building energetically self-sufficient.
Finally, the project will also study the area surrounding the dispensary. There will be emphasis on improving public spaces and on installing more green areas, which at present are severely lacking in Maji Moto.
