The project "African House" aims to improve the quality of life of the Jorejick family in Karatu/Tanzania through architecture. It is about accommodating a large family of 15 people, with all the dynamics of their own cultural expression and the nature of the property, which required a sense of structure, so we developed a conceptual, functional layout that can be transferred to other locations.
In analysing our site, we looked at the dialogue between the family and the plot, especially their movement within the plot and the connections they make. This led us to develop a principle of movement and connections beyond the boundaries of the plot.

1. for the conceptual functional arrangement, we created a U-shaped form (1 volume comprises the family functions and the other 2, the spaces), with the emphasis on creating an inner node for the family meeting, which we called the "heart of the family". We even went so far as to propose a more sumptuous aesthetic, to make the family faint with joy and rest by a somewhat confusing use of contemporary and vivid colours.

African House, Tanzania

Location

Karatu, Tanzania

Client

Archstorming

Size

250 m²

Year

Competition 2020

2. principle of movement and connections beyond the property line have paths that connect important elements such as the entrance, the trees, Nico's house, the neighbours and the relationship with both animals and agriculture. Our abstract functional layout then begins to twist adaptively to accommodate these specific elements, allowing us to organically compose a structure, the body signature, which we believe emerges naturally from the property itself and creates a triangular house:

(1) choice of building materials, (2) provision of solar energy and rainwater collection, (3) integration of passive energy measures (building orientation, openings for natural light, ventilation and solar shading). We promote integrated design planning and participatory planning for each phase. This ensures a sense of shared ownership among people and creates respect for the designed house, taking into account local culture, climate and spatial hierarchy. In this way, the house can be continuously extended, flexible and adaptable to meet the needs of its users as their lives progress.