KIMISAGARA COMMUNITY CENTRE
The ethnic groups of Rwanda continue to grapple with the legacy of the 1994 genocide. In pursuit of justice and peaceful coexistence, Espérance aims to bridge the ethnic divide through education and social programs. In 2002, they established "Football for Peace and Anti-AIDS" to use football as a tool for reconciliation and youth education.
The proposed center will be located in Kimisagara, a densely populated, disadvantaged area in central Kigali, where youth face limited opportunities and high school dropout rates. Situated on the grounds of Ecole Primaire de Kimisagara, the center lies next to a re-engineered watercourse and seasonal wetland prone to flooding. An informal route along the canal connects the center to public facilities and the surrounding residential area, providing access to water, space for informal vending, and a training area for moto-taxi drivers.
The center’s design is shaped by its context. The football pitch will be oriented north-south to define separate play areas for the school while activating the pedestrian path along the canal. The site's steep hills give the roof a prominent role, serving as the fifth façade and reinforcing the center's identity in the community. The building's simple, cost-effective design features a generous shading roof with an extended canopy, creating communal outdoor spaces and defining play areas for the school, while also supporting planned events and spontaneous social interactions.
Esperance (Association des Jeunes Sportifs)
Design and Project Architect:
Killian O’Dochartaigh
Contractor:
Leonard Omari, Three Code Construction, Kigali
Architect of Record/Quantity Surveyor:
Lakes Consortium, Kigali
Consultants:
Richard Ngendahayo (Eco Design)
Francis Hillman (Phaesun Solar)
RDB (Rwandan Development Board), REMA (Rwandan Environmental Agency)
Donna Rubinoff (One Stop Centre, Nyarugenge District)
Project Management:
Kevin Gannon at Architecture for Humanity, Streetfootballworld
Model makers:
Seung Jin Ham, Tiffany Lau, Rui Peng and Lars Fischedick (Architecture workshop, Cape Town)
Nominated by Arch Daily for Building of the Year 2012
Nominated for Curry Stone Prize 2012
Architecture and Urbanism : A + U Local Engagement + British Architects (2013) Vol.2. pp. 16–21.
Lepik, A. (2013). Afritecture : Building Social Change. Hatje Cantz. pp. 230–236.
The proposed center will be located in Kimisagara, a densely populated, disadvantaged area in central Kigali, where youth face limited opportunities and high school dropout rates. Situated on the grounds of Ecole Primaire de Kimisagara, the center lies next to a re-engineered watercourse and seasonal wetland prone to flooding. An informal route along the canal connects the center to public facilities and the surrounding residential area, providing access to water, space for informal vending, and a training area for moto-taxi drivers.
The center’s design is shaped by its context. The football pitch will be oriented north-south to define separate play areas for the school while activating the pedestrian path along the canal. The site's steep hills give the roof a prominent role, serving as the fifth façade and reinforcing the center's identity in the community. The building's simple, cost-effective design features a generous shading roof with an extended canopy, creating communal outdoor spaces and defining play areas for the school, while also supporting planned events and spontaneous social interactions.
DESIGN TEAM
Client:Esperance (Association des Jeunes Sportifs)
Design and Project Architect:
Killian O’Dochartaigh
Contractor:
Leonard Omari, Three Code Construction, Kigali
Architect of Record/Quantity Surveyor:
Lakes Consortium, Kigali
Consultants:
Richard Ngendahayo (Eco Design)
Francis Hillman (Phaesun Solar)
RDB (Rwandan Development Board), REMA (Rwandan Environmental Agency)
Donna Rubinoff (One Stop Centre, Nyarugenge District)
Project Management:
Kevin Gannon at Architecture for Humanity, Streetfootballworld
Model makers:
Seung Jin Ham, Tiffany Lau, Rui Peng and Lars Fischedick (Architecture workshop, Cape Town)
AWARDS
Special Mention in AAI Architectural Awards 2014Nominated by Arch Daily for Building of the Year 2012
Nominated for Curry Stone Prize 2012
SELECTED PRESS
Meuser, P., & Dalbai, A. (2021). Sub-Saharan Africa : architectural guide, DOM Publishers. Vol. 5. p. 276Architecture and Urbanism : A + U Local Engagement + British Architects (2013) Vol.2. pp. 16–21.
Lepik, A. (2013). Afritecture : Building Social Change. Hatje Cantz. pp. 230–236.
