ARCHITECTURE AND ECONOMICSARCHITECTURE AS A MEANS OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA
This is a paper that will focus on how to cultivate theprocess of architecture and construction between Kenya1(Africa) and Japan integrating economic principles.
Keywords: mud, culture, locals, program
Background:
Architecture is culture.
I will start first by reiterating this adage. Unlike many otherscience disciplines, architecture is closely knitted to cultureof any given society. Architecture, in recent times ischanging in its ideology and approach. Architecture isbecoming more and more human focused and less iconic.
There is a shift from the industrial influence to environmental
influence. Today Architecture is more of a by-product (ratherthan the goal product) of the influence of economy,environment and the Internet. In Africa, human relationshipis one of the biggest elements of life and this increasingly
affects African approach to architecture.
As a tool of economic development and cooperation
between any 2 countries, the built is statement has been ameasure criterion. But unfortunately we have rarely appliedarchitecture as a means of measuring economic and culturaldevelopment. The built is quantifiable in terms of mass andmonetary value; architecture will also entail the stewardshipof good living.
Culture here is inclusive of the local materials, lifestyle andeven motive and purpose of living.
INFORMAL SECTOR
It is said that by 2030 60% of Kenya will be urban areas.
This is due he continued rural-urban migration.
I have chosen to dwell on the informal sector because you
will find African architecture in its ‘purity’. Building methods
are still tradition. The task that we face is to elevate thelifestyle in the informal sector to the present modern level
without abandoning useful African oriented designconcepts. An analogous scenario is the one seen when aMaasai in his mud hut and cattle beside but using Nokia tocommunicate with partners. This kind of leap can also bethought about in architecture too.
Designs in the informal sector should be flexible, attractive
and sustainable in nature. Architecture should not be
dictative (iconic) in nature on how it should be used but
rather architecture should allow for flexibility of activities.
This is because any particular location will have its own
practices and beliefs. Constructing concrete square row
classes in remote areas might not be the solution to lack ofeducation; the structure obviously becomes misplaced (thewrong solution for the right problem). The same principle
applies to construction of religious centers, hospitals
markets etc.

INTERNET, SUN AND MUD!

1Dick Olango
SUN. Solar energy. Sub-Saharan African is known for it hot
climate, but most of the house don’t tap this free energy.
Capital cost is definitely a setback but the benefits that willarise from having power are far-reaching. Having power will
mean business can go on uninterrupted by the nightfall.
The design of the market place will also create a constantflow of goods and services.
INTERNET. Designing to incorporate solar energy andInternet is indispensable. The net will allow for open source
consumer driven innovation. Design will be based on theneeds of the locals and it also allows for awareness of thelocals against the rest of the world.
MUD2. Design in the informal sector will create a greatcollaboration of organic design and digital design, a rarephenomenon up until recently.
Mud has qualities that we need to use more often. Itsinsulation quality for example is something that is needed in
the west. Also as a finishing material, it comes in different
sheds and densities, allowing for variation in design.
Mud when mixed with straw increases it elasticity, thusinteresting design spheres can be explored. This willencourage young artist and designers to explore moreinnovative territories. Collaboration with other materials likestone, wood etc will achieve increased strength, durabilityetc.
Mud (earth) is a sustainer of life! It can be used for cooling
effect in modern cities at very low cost.
Mud has great disposability features; mud is earth and it
goes back to the soil after use. Cradle to cradle design. The
topology, landscape and ecosystem of a place will also be
kept in balance. Sustainability is a prerequisite for any design
henceforth.
With the combination of Internet, sun and mud, I believe newprograms will be developed which will add spice to life!
URBAN IMPLICATIONS
A problem with modern African cities today lies in the way of
their growth. The difference pace of economic vs. the human(demographic and cultural) growth creates a city under strain.
Problems like slums and sprawl, security issues, lack oftouch and lack of identity are not uncommon to many of theAfrican big cities. We are therefore faced with the task ofnurturing a true model of an African city especially in thevillages by designing based on the economic and cultural
tenets of the locals. Laying down nature foundation so thatwhen construction starts, the ecosystem is affected much.
Active forestation!
With service-based economy becoming popular, the influx ofgoods and people is bound to happen. This affects thegeneral out look of the city. Here again economic
development should be done on an architectural context andvice versa for controlled urban growth.
Over the years and recently in Africa, the lifestyle of womenis changing drastically. It is no longer in the kitchen as was

ARCHITECTURE AND ECONOMICS
known, but more on the open city. Urban space and housewill have to consider this anatomy. Priority should be given
to designs that are children and women centered at thesame time blending with environment.

2Dick Olango

GRANTS/AID
When there is aid for construction, a terrible mistake
happens; lack of locals’ participation, imposed foreignbuilding methods, materials, tight schedules and irrelevant
priorities. Lack of prior survey of the areas’ demographics,
climatic conditions etc will create, not architecture but just abusy body. Prior study of the place will also identify which
direction should be taken; either agriculture or tourism
which ultimately will enable building relevant infrastructure.

Fig 1

Tight schedules will not allow for consideration of cultural
aspects of the project. With prior survey, economical issues
will be dealt with realistically, especially after assessing thematerial, labor and administrative cost. All these process,needless to say needs local experts collaboration.
However, this trend has been changing gradually, forexample CanDo (JICA) makes a construction manual forfuture reference. This construction manual is a collaborative
effort with the local fundis (craftsmen) and foreign
engineers. Also this is a first hand manual made with directreference to the construction site thus making it very
commendable for independent future growth and education.
See attached const manualFig 2

For grants and AID, a win-win business model need to be
the motive. This can be in form of design ideas exchange,material exchange etc. Africa has myriad of materials likemud (coming in different colors) stones, bamboo etc. Japanon the other hand can offer their minimalist design solutions
and also their refined equipment.
CASE STUDIES
A good challenge that faces modern architects who want todesign in the informal sector is the incorporation of thelocal’s cultural principles at large.
Case study 1
The case study below is one of the best examples where
this harmony was achieved. The Italian architect extensively
studied the locals (Kanak of New Caledonia) practices,culture and environment. This is a cultural centre composedof 10 units called "cases," all of different sizes and different
functions, but with the consistent form of vertically
positioned shell-like structures that resemble the traditional
huts of a Caledonian Village. They were given a deliberate"unfinished" appearance as a reminder that Kanak culture isstill in the process of becoming - a belief held by thedeceased Canaque leader, and inspiration for the site.

Fig 3

ARCHITECTURE AND ECONOMICS
Case study 2
The figure below shows an example of how a traditional
adobe constructed house, fig 4 is made seismically stableby extending the walls outwards, fig. 5. This is a method
applied to Block construction in Japan, and with just a little
twist, the same can reapplied to adobe too.

3

Dick Olango
Historically, the region has given rise to numerous
earthquakes, including a magnitude-5.5 earthquake in May
2002. That event shook the Lake Victoria, Tanzania, region,
killing two people and leaving more than 400 families
homeless.
(http://www.geotimes.org/dec05/WebExtra120505.html#)
SUMMARY
DESIGN STRUCTURES THAT ELEVATES THE PLACE,PEACEFUL INTERACTION AND ECONOMY OF THE
LOCALS.
DESIGN MORE WITH LESS FOR THE REGENERATION OF
LIFE.
The following are the rudimentary steps that we should take:•••Fig 4•

An exhibition of African architecture to show theAfrican design principles and qualities.
Make a 1:1 model of African architecture
incorporating the African and Japanese design
elements. This can be proposed to housing
companies both in Japan and in Africa.
Introducing design studios in Japanese Architecture
University for more research on the use of MUD as abuilding material.
Publish a comprehensive architecture book on
African architecture to elaborate the forms anddesign principles. There is NO book that talks about
African architectural history in Japan! This will help
investors understand the local architecture before
hand.

Notes:
1. Africa and Kenya can be used interchangeably. This also
applies to sub-Saharan African states.
2. For mud to be used, water will be needed. With the solar
energy, water can be pumped which can also be used fordomestic purposes.
Reference:Fig 5Earthquake news:
A strong earthquake shook the Lake Tanganyika region inAfrica Monday, followed by two small aftershocks overnight.
The magnitude-6.8 earthquake struck at 2:19 p.m. local time
and was centered about 150 kilometers south of Kigoma,
Tanzania
The earthquake occurred at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers
and originated from a fault in the East African Rift Zone,
which runs north to south for about 3,000 kilometers, fromEthiopia to Zambezi. This zone, "is one of the mostseismically active parts of Africa," says David Applegate,senior science advisor for earthquake and geologic hazards
for USGS. The rift is an unusual occurrence in which forces
pulling apart the continental plate could potentially split East
Africa from the rest of the continent, according to USGS.
The crust at the rift is stretching beyond its limits causing
tension cracks, and magma rising through these cracks canbe a source of additional pressure.

I had dialogues and discussions with the following:
James Kuria, Yoshida, Fukuda, Sakata Isaka, Ken’ichiro
Matsuoka, Hiroshi Yamasaki, Nobuhiro Kunieda, MikaKunieda, Kurumi Shiratori.
Books:
Biocity
Sustainable Design Guide
Economic Development Kenneth Galbraith
Cities in civilization, sir Peter hall
Women In the city
http://en.wikipedia.org/Dick Olango is an architect based in Tokyo. He is also an
adjunct lecturer at Nippon Engineering College of Hachioji
2007.11.29