In 2021 we announced an exciting collaboration between the London Festival of Architecture (LFA) and Kampala Design Week (KDW). The collaboration was made possible thanks to the generous support of the British Council. LFA and KDW have worked alongside international designer, Donna Asiimwe – a graduate of MSc. Sustainable Architecture and Healthy Buildings from the University of Derby, UK – to develop a series of four videos, which explore and respond to this year’s festival’s theme of ‘care’.
Uganda’s culture has always been sensitive to architecture and design, but it was only recently that the country started fostering dialogues around architecture and design with international designers. This was caused by the country’s history of colonialism, which not only led to a significant loss of traditional building practices, but also of cultural identity.
Fortunately, due to the new generation of young and emerging designers, Uganda’s heritage and culture are now being celebrated through fresh and dynamic approaches. This is particularly visible through young designers’ building styles and use of materials, which in turn positively affect the country and its inhabitants. However, today’s Ugandan designers are confronted with a considerable challenge, which is to not only embrace and preserve their traditional culture, but also foster local and international conversations.
For this reason, LFA is proud to collaborate with KDW and present four video works, which explore the value of care in the Ugandan built environment. These conversations are led by Donna Asiimwe with the curatorial support of LFA and KDW. The focus of the projects is on the below topics:
The vendor is talking about the effect setting up the new Wandegeya Market to her business. Its had some positive effects such as improving the quality of the hygiene in the market; but its also had a down-side: The structure doesn't show how one that there is a market inside.
Different reasons are often given for the choice of public structures erected. In Kampala, we briefly explore two locations, a religious site and a market. The question we explore is through this video is: How does architecture impact the social surroundings that it is placed in.
Finances will always be a key consideration to make when building places of usage. In this video e talked to Mr Felix Okoboi, Board Chairperson of the Uganda Development Bank and professional architect and discussed the economic impact of urban architecture in Uganda.
32 Degrees East is constructing the first purpose built art center in Kampala. With such a great first, a lot of thought has been put into the kind of building and construction style that will come together to deliver the space. In this video we spoke to Tessa, Director of 32 Degrees East: A Ugandan Arts Trust and explore what considerations and thought processes were internalized in the choice of location as well as the architectural style chosen.
