Student Work
1∕6
Title
Nairobi House
Project Description
Nairobi House is a design for UN-Habitat that addresses the unique concerns of crisis housing in a hot-humid climate. The 200 square-feet microunit for four is divided into two spaces: a living space and an attic. The living space utilizes passive ventilation strategies such as the Bernoulli effect to provide comfort cooling to the inhabitants during daytime. By harnessing the diurnal swing, the attic harvests potable drinking water out of the humid air through the use of salt desiccant beds. At night, the attic space is left open so salt beds can absorb the water from the humid air. The attic is closed during the day, creating a greenhouse. The moisture is then released during the daytime by evaporation and collected for drinking. The roof of the micro unit can also harvest rainwater. Lastly, the house was designed with modular bamboo composite products and can be easily assembled or disassembled. The modernization of bamboo, a material native to Kenya, not only provide a strong and eco-friendly material for the house, but can also sustain local micro-industries.