The centre, designed by Kéré Architecture, is open to everyone regardless of religion, gender and background, strengthening the site’s fundamentally public and free character. The design provides a space that is conducive to the activities that were already taking place on-site, such as education in health, literacy and numeracy, sports training and matches, spontaneous games, informal gatherings, community events, skills training workshops and music and dance classes.
“With the Kamwokya Community Centre, we created a lasting, innovative architecture that will provide inspiration and a public space for the community, improving the quality of life for all. It is my hope that it will function as a symbol of pride for the people of Kamwokya.”
Francis Kéré.
“The centre is a development that demonstrates that the marginalised communities deserve better and it gives children, adolescents and adults moments of hope, happiness and sustainable solutions to their needs, in addition to providing them with new aspects of better living.”
Francis Mbaziira, CEO of KCCC.
Kamwokya Community Centre by Kéré Architecture. Photograph by Iwan Baan.
Kamwokya Community Centre by Kéré Architecture. Photograph by Iwan Baan.
Project description by Kéré Architecture
The Kamwokya Community Centre is the fruit of a partnership between the local non-profit Kamwokya Christian Caring Community, which runs sports, leisure and artistic activities in one of the poorest areas of Uganda’s capital, Kampala, and the Ameropa Foundation, which works internationally on projects that aim to improve the lives of marginalised communities.
The goal of the project is to maintain and enhance the public and free character of the site, seeking not to impose, but to gently uplift it. The playground provides a more conducive space for the activities already happening on sites, such as sports training and matches, spontaneous gatherings, community events, workshops, and music and dance classes.
The entire project is raised on a platform featuring an efficient drainage system to protect it from recurrent floods during heavy rains. The platform is divided into distinct areas by slight differences in level that allow multiple activities to take place simultaneously without interfering with one another. The main sports field, drained and shaded, is surrounded by tribune-like steps to watch the games or gather informally. On the platform, two naturally ventilated buildings house a small gym, an internet café, various multi-purpose rooms for classes and workshops, a music studio and an office, as well as an adjacent sanitary block. These spaces are covered by two butterfly roofs raised by steel structures to allow for airflow, which gives a strong identity to the site in its urban context.
Beyond its practical function, the project aims to transform the community by becoming a source of inspiration and pride that in turn can create a sense of agency and ownership.
