The Kakuma Community Centre is situated within one of the world’s largest refugee settlements in northern Kenya. The project emerges from a complex set of social, environmental, and infrastructural conditions, where access to resources is limited and community networks are essential to daily life.

The design process began with an extensive site analysis, integrating climatic data, geospatial mapping, and on-the-ground observations. This approach allowed for a deeper understanding of movement patterns, environmental constraints, and the existing social fabric of the settlement.

Focusing on flexibility to accommodate the various potential user groups, the proposal develops a framework of interconnected spaces—designed to support education, gathering, and local enterprise. Passive environmental strategies are central to the design, utilizing orientation, shading, and material selection to respond to extreme climatic conditions while minimizing reliance on mechanical systems.

Equally important is the integration of local construction methods and community participation, ensuring that the project is both buildable and maintainable within its context, as well as serves as an opportunity for skills development and economic opportunity for the community residents.

The Kakuma Community Centre reflects a broader approach to design—one that prioritizes adaptability, resilience, and the empowerment of local communities through purposeful spatial intervention.

• Architecture: NOWMA Studio

• Project Management: Colain

• Cost Advisory: McLeod + Aitken