Village Health Works Staff Housing / Louise Braverman

Village Health Works Staff Housing / Louise Braverman - Image 2 of 12Village Health Works Staff Housing / Louise Braverman - Windows, Table, Chair, BedroomVillage Health Works Staff Housing / Louise Braverman - HandrailVillage Health Works Staff Housing / Louise Braverman - WindowsVillage Health Works Staff Housing / Louise Braverman - More Images+ 7

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Village Health Works Staff Housing / Louise Braverman - Windows
© Iwan Baan

Text description provided by the architects. Embedded in mountainside of the rural village of Kigutu, the 18-bed Village Health Works Staff Housing is a romance between East African elemental aesthetics and inventive off-the grid sustainability. Cutting a skewed line in the terrain, the 6000 square foot dormitory captures breathtaking mountain views. Currently rebuilding after many years of horrific civil strife, the villagers hope that this housing will create a model for the sustainable future of both the community and the country.

Village Health Works Staff Housing / Louise Braverman - Image 8 of 12
First Floor Plan

Porous Porches

To encourage the Kigutu outdoor communal culture, the oversized public porch doors seamlessly connect inside and out, welcoming all who enter. Similarly the private sleeping rooms, each with its own personal vividly colored entry porch, echo this semi-permeable sensibility. The porosity of the porches encourages sociability, enhances airflow into the adjacent sleeping rooms, and frames magnificent unobstructed transverse views of the landscape.

Village Health Works Staff Housing / Louise Braverman - Coast
© Iwan Baan

Sustainable Strategies

The same elemental design moves that establish its aesthetics will also advance its sustainability. Since Kigutu is 100% off the municipal grid, a nearby solar array and local solar water heaters exclusively power the housing. 

Village Health Works Staff Housing / Louise Braverman - Handrail
© Iwan Baan

Sited partially below grade, the location of the building both reduced excavation costs and takes advantage of the earth’s natural insulation for temperature control. Eliminating the need for air conditioning, the personal porches create three-sided natural ventilation within the bedrooms. The location of the window openings also creates a natural stack effect that amplifies the airflow.

Village Health Works Staff Housing / Louise Braverman - Windows, Table, Chair, Bedroom
© Iwan Baan

The extended roof overhangs provide solar protection to optimize the use of natural daylight, while French drains distribute runoff rainwater for irrigation.  Yet the greatest efficiency is the human efficiency. The villagers, using local bricks, manually built the housing, eliminating the need for fuel consuming machines and creating transferrable job training skills for members of the entire Kigutu community.

Village Health Works Staff Housing / Louise Braverman - Image 9 of 12
Second Floor Plan

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Project location

Address:Mugara, Burundi

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Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
About this office
Cite: "Village Health Works Staff Housing / Louise Braverman" 09 Jan 2015. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/584768/village-health-works-staff-housing-louise-braverman-2> ISSN 0719-8884

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