Phase I of the project, involves the use of urban acupuncture at three points on the site where the most dilapidated building structures lie and are the highest flood risk zones. These three points are created by a transit oriented development strategy and are to be the proposed light rail stations. These are the areas from which the development and activity is intended to start and then gradually radiate through out the site and toward the Nakivubo Canal on the edge of the industrial area. The Nakivubo canal, it should be noted, is originally a seasonal river. The design also focuses on adapting to flood risk which is predicted due to future climatic changes in the site area particularly as a result of its location within a flood plain. The areas chosen for development in this phase as mentioned earlier, are also those with the highest flood risk. A storm and rainwater drainage and retention system is developed through out the site and ties the projects together in a series of parks, courtyards and bio-swales. The site-specific storm water system works together with the existing Nakivubo canal that is this the main drainage canal for Kampala’s storm water by taking the pressure away from it and also acting as a spillover drainage zone during the times that the canal overflows. The design proposal further integrates flood alleviation strategies on the canal itself and the built environments as well as all fabrics of the urban development from transit systems to urban agriculture. In addition to that the project development touches the earth lightly by minimising the building footprint and creating over 75% of the new development area as outdoor public space and infiltration zones, accommodation space for approximately 3500 people, 122513sqm of office and commercial space as well as 15443sqm for public buildings. Conclusively, the project brings urban design all the way down to the micro-level in the design of the neighbourhoods that provide a variety of functions and cater to different social groups creating a dynamic and diverse mixed community.
Flood resilience integration in building typologies
Wet retention pond functioning as a public natural swimming pool and public space
Neighbourhood Scale climate adaptive interventions serving varied functions in the dry season
Wet flood-mitigation strategy for canal
Bio-swale Street and 2nd floor connection of social housing communal space to the public domain Dry flood-mitigation strategy for canal
One-way lane green streets with bus route
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