Oboch Community Center
A multi-purpose center in Oboch, Kenya, featuring a bike shop, recycling facilities, seed bank, and vibrant communal spaces, fostering sustainable livelihoods, education, and social cohesion.
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Africa, Kenya, Oboch | KEN 06 | |
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900 mts.2 |  |
Started: November 1, 2022. |
| Phase | Ongoing. | Type | Community facilities. |
| Target Group | Children, elderly, emerging communities and women. | Partner | . |
| Client | . | Donor | . |
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Passive, Solar | ||
1. Observe.
Why, context, challenge.
The 1700 m² site, currently used exclusively for farming, holds untapped potential as a community hub for local residents and schoolchildren. Observations reveal that while the land supports agricultural activities, its existing tertiary pathways and open spaces suggest a latent capacity for social and educational functions. Community feedback indicates a need for a dedicated space where quiet activities such as reading and tutoring can occur alongside more active pursuits like vocational workshops and creative projects. This shift from a purely agricultural use to a multifunctional community house represents a significant opportunity to repurpose the area in a way that respects local rhythms and enhances everyday life.
3. Approach.
How, strategy, interact
Our approach focuses on reimagining the current farming site into a flexible, adaptable community centre. Through extensive local engagement, we identified the need to delineate areas for quiet study, active workshops, and communal gatherings while preserving the organically developed circulation routes. The strategy involves clustering high-noise functions, such as recycling and bike workshops, away from quieter zones intended for learning and reflection. By employing sustainable, locally inspired construction techniques and materials, we aim to create a cost-effective facility that can evolve with the community’s changing needs.
4. Design.
Programmering, development, co-create.
The design transforms the 1700 m² agricultural site into a multifunctional community house that caters to the needs of local residents and school-going children. Central to the design is a large, inviting entrance lobby that acts as the heart of the building, seamlessly connecting functional zones such as a library, a small theatre, and spaces for tailoring and a bakery. Existing tertiary pathways are incorporated as formal circulation routes linking distinct areas, including a dedicated recycling centre, bike workshop, and a seed bank. Alternative construction methods—using concrete blocks or coral stone finishes—ensure durability and ease of maintenance. Hollow breeze blocks and cross-ventilated glass shutters promote passive cooling, while flexible, modular spaces accommodate both quiet study and active community engagement, ultimately fostering a vibrant, resilient local hub.
Who participate
Jan Godzimirski
Yuliia Hryshai
Catherine Collin
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