UMUYJI-IBISHANGA

Urban Ecology Studio 2010-2013



This urban-ecology design studio was taught at Rwanda's first School of Architecture - a school initiated by a group of European, American and East African Architects - from 2010 to 2013. Students were asked to critically examine the THINNESS – The superficiality of the City masterplan by surveying and measuring the socio-ecological realities - THICKNESS of Urban Kigali as they experienced it. Many students, coming from informal settlements themselves, aspired to the ‘modern’ masterplan and its generic urbanism. They perceived informal settlements and the use of wetlands as ‘improper and ugly,’ advocating for their clearance. This studio thus became a pedagogical safe space for students to reflect critically about the top-down vision of the masterplan and explore alternative visions to mediate the tensions between the city (umuyji) and wetlands (ibishanga) through grounded  research within the informal, wetland and non-western realities on the ground.


Course Organisers: Dr Killian O’ Dochartaigh & Dr Illaria Boniburini

Course Tutors: Dr.Costanza La Mantia, Garrett Ganter and Guillaum Sardin




STUDENTS Shaffy Assuman Murwanashyaka, Richard Mpfizi, Olivier Raoul Mpinga, Olivier Niyonsaba, Solange Marie Muhirwa, Abias Philippe Mumuhire, Jacques Murama, Jean Eudes Ndayisaba, Jean Bosco Ndungutse, Jean De Dieu Ngendahimana, Marc Dusingizimana, Dieudonné Dusingizimana, Brian Cyogere, Marie Minerve Dukunde, Thierry Iraguha, Emmanuel Nyirinkindi, Flavia Gwiza, Theophile Uwayezu, Lambert Nyirimana, Amza Hategekimana, Jean Paul Bigirimana, Jean Nepo Hagenimana, Emmanuel Rukundo, Joe Diogene Maniraguha, Edson Mbangutse, Jean Paul Sebuhayi Uwase, Eric Ntayoberwa, Emmanuel Havugimana, Emmanuel Mutabazi, Apiane Ndorimana, Kenneth Nkusi, Serge Ntwari, Justin Twizere, Alain Yves Twizeyimana, Jean Pierre Tuyisenge, Jean Paul Uzabakiriho, Jeanine Uwera, Aloys Nshimiyimana, Marie Amélie Ntigurirwa and Alexis Niyongombwa