Philip Mtenga Lyaruu - Habari Yako!

Habari yako

Urban revolution for Zanzibar.

Philip Mtenga Lyaruu

philipmtengalyaruu@gmail.com

Academy of Architecture, Amsterdam

August 2022

Committee members:

Berend van der Lans

Abdessamed Azarfane

Rachel Keeton

External committee members:

Jolijn Valk

Susana Constantino

“Habari yako?” = Hello/How are you?

“Habari yako?” = Your news?

“Habari yako?” = Invitation to conversation

Introduction

Born in the Netherlands as child of a Tanzanian father and a Dutch mother, I am raised in the Netherlands. After visiting Tanzania for the first time already far into my twenties an interest in my own heritage was lit. To nourish this interest I want to combine my work with my heritage. Thus I strive to contribute to the development of this fantastic country from the position of an architect.

The image shown of Tanzania to the outside world is one of paradise. Steppes filled with lions and elephants, white sandy beaches, coral reefs, and rustic sea life is what defines our western view of the country. But in the meantime the problems that can be found in Tanzania are very much exemplary of what is seen in other places in Africa. Rapid and unorganized growth of urban centers, with the congestion, pollution and slumming of large areas that comes with that. Cities like Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar and Arusha are becoming immense urban centers where the global economy manifests itself. In this juxtaposition of paradise and the global economy we seem to forget that there are people with a unique culture and their own ways of living.

It was when travelling through Zanzibar that I was introduced to some of the problems of this modern urban condition. The fast and mainly

unguided growth of the city is posing increasing problems now that the center seemed to draw more economic activity. The roads leading in and out of the now sprawling city are to narrow and start to congest. In the meantime unguided development and speculation threatens inclusivity and livability in the heart of this urban center. It is in this setting that the Department of Urban and Rural Planning (DoURP) started making plans to restructure and densify parts of the city. During a meeting and small tour with Muhammad Juma, head of DoURP, I was struck with how diverse the existing urban fabric and the individual houses therein where. Figuring that there may be an unseen intent behind this diversity that should be retained if or when the urban fabric is changed I now seek to find out more. What is it that makes these people and their built environment so unique and can this be used to transform the city to better suiting the modern age?

January 2019, Introduction to the site with Muhammad Juma, then the Head of the Department for Urban and Rural Planning (DoURP). Muhammad gave me the inspiration to formulate an urban redevelopment project in Zanzibar city.

Zanzivbar city

Zanzibar is the former capital of the Swahili coast in east Africa. It has a long history of trade and culture and has been a mayor centre for the region in the past

East Africa, Indian ocean Tanzania, Swahili coast Zanzibar city, Ungoja island

Aerial view of our site and its surroundings

Zanzibar faces a lot of challenges. Our site however is only very small. Not all challenges can be solved from this little plot. The research will focus on what we can control and how architecture can be a part of the wider solutions.

Goal

“How can an architectural project in Zanzibar create a positive impact on the development of the wider city?”

1. Context

2. Analysis

Masterplan

Development cluster

Plan fragments

Context

Analysis

Masterplan

Cluster

Plan fragments

Zanzibar city

Urban region

Zanzibar city is the administrative, touristic and financial centre of the islands.

Urban Expansion

The urban expanding following the lines of transit. People want to live in the city or the roads leading into it.

Magharibi (west)

Urban

Mjini Rural

Settlement

Development focusses on the outskirts of the city, putting presure on the exisiting urban infrastructure.

Urban challenges

Large scale population growth and informal development is leading to congestion and pressures existing infrastructure.

The city needs to change to be able to house more people

Historic development

The city has grown in layers of planned and unplanned development. The current urban fabric is disconnected from each other and cannot easily adapt to changes.

Sprawl

Unplanned development, both informal sprawl as unplanned densification is increases the current challenges of the city by putting pressure on existing infrastructure.

Problem statement

“Informal development in and outside of the city are creating an enormous influx of new inhabitants into the city of Zanzibar. However, the inflexible nature of the current city means that its current infrastructure cannot absorb more inhabitants.”

Assignment

Restructure the urban fabric of Zanzibar to admit more newcomers, while creating improved infrastructure and social spaces for the existing residents

1. Context -

2. Analysis

fascination

Masterplan

Development cluster

Plan elements

“Habari yako?” = Hello/How are you?

“Habari yako?” = Your news?

“Habari yako?” = Invitation to conversation

Personal fascination

One of my first interactions with the swahili language happened when I first visited Zanzibar. A local tought me a way to say “hello!”. The word he taught me was “habari yako!”, which I would use as a pleasantry. Saying it to people I’d encounter or pass on the street. It has however more meaning than that. It is literaly a question, inviting the person to engage with you in conversation.

This more social meaning to even a simple greeting is very much typical to the Zanzibari. They constantly engage with each other and maintain very active social connections with the people around them.

Zanzibar lifestyle

My own impression of the Zanzibari is that they are a very open and social people. Easy (and quick!) to talk and often greeting eachother. They seem to live outside in public. Making the entire city a social space.

Network culture

The urban space performs an important social function. Allowing for meeting and socializing to take place. The future urban environment should be designed to facilitate this specifically.

Goal #1

Public space is the main social connector between people. Design the city accordingly.

The swahili house

the strong social connection the Zanzibari have to the public space is also visible in their vernacular housing typology, the swahili house. Almost all houses feature a stone bench along the street and an active courtyard entrance. Both these entrances are heavily used to meet neighbours and engage with the local community, making it important built social elements.

Swahili houses in Ng’ambo, the city centre.

Kitchen & storage: Private, covered/outdoor, courtyard, women & children, cooking

Courtyard: Gathering space, friends and family,

Toilet & shower

Spaces are organized around a central corridor. Rooms can be added along this central access when households size grows.

Uwani

Informal, friends and family,

Bedrooms: Genders and generations separated.

Living room: Private, family, together, dining

Front entrance: Formal, invitation, living area

‘Baraza’: Male, chatting, informal, neighbourhood.

Swahili house flexibility

The strength of the swahili house is in its flexibility of plan. Many different types of households inhabit the swahili house.

Instead of moving to a new house when the family grows, people adapt the house to suit the changes of the household customizing their dwelling.

Baraza street

Uwani alleys

Swahili neighbourhood

Swahili houses typically are placed back to back, creating continuous public streets with baraza’s in front.

Behind the houses uwani courtyards connect to a series of alleyways. Often, the activity of the uwani leaks out into these spaces and combine with the neighbours, forming collective activities

Domestic activity taking place in public in the uwani alleys.

Both men and women using the baraza.

Baraza & Uwani

Through the baraza and the uwani two different sides of the swahili households connect to two different kinds of public space. The baraza forms the public face of the house, connecting directly to the street, while the uwani connects domestic activities to the collective space around the house.

Female Work Household Children

Male Work

BarazaUwani

Courts

Work Leisure

Baraza Maskan

Gender spaces

Women retain their responsibilities for the household tasks even when working. Women fulfil a double role in the household. They often work, but also still carry out most domestic chores.

Baraza -

Accessible

Visible/public

- Male dominant

Dwelling -

Private/family - Flexible / personalized - introvert

Uwani- Domestic activities - Collective space

Female dominant

Public private collective

Goal #2

The swahili house centres around 3 main elements. These are the basis for Zanzibari traditions.

Use and reinterpret the 3 main elements of the swahili house for a new urban housing typology

1. The private interior

2. A strong public meeting space

3. A strong collective gathering space

Shared Baraza & Uwani

When living in apartments or closed housing blocks there is no particular baraza or courtyard for residents. However, a similar division can be seen. Domestic activities and household tasks are done between groups of women and shared stone baraza’s are erected on the street. Proving the desire to use these elements even when not readily available

Source: The Guardian, Tourism pushed women out of Zanzibar’s public spaces –but now they’re taking them back, https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/oct/11/tourism-pushed-womenout-of-zanzibars-public-spaces-but-now-theyre-taking-them-back

Female spaces

Traditionally the separation between men and women was stict. With both genders having their own public spaces. Due to economic activity and lack of space mainly female spaces have disapeared, forcing them indoors and leaving them with less opportunities to form social connections

Goal #3

Spaces used by women to organize are often marginalized or usurped for commercial use.

- Protect spaces for women specifically and create spaces where they can gather together.

Transit spaces

One of the many buse roads in Mjini.

Road infrastructure

Three main types of road can be discerned.

The urban access road (red), the urban connector (blue) and the neighbourhood access road (grey).

Along these three roads different scales of activity take place.

Current: walking distances of up to 500m to a road.

Accessibility

- Main transit lines are few and far between

- Walking distances to roads limits accessibility.

Commercial activity

The urban road network attracts commercial development, triggering the people to develop their own property to take advantage of the increasing traffic coming by. The deep residential interiors are separated from these opportunities due to the distance they are situated from the road. Limiting the opportunities of its inhabitants.

Commercial space

Commercial activity along the main roads have become the principal commercial centres, facilitating goods and services for residents.

Entrepeneurship

Where roads meet residential areas people start shops. Roads are a driving force for commercial development.

Dwellings & entrepeneurship

People in Zanzibar are very opportunistic and will react on an opportunity to make money. Expanding or integrating one’s house with a shop is very common along the main roads

These developments are often done even if its a detriment to ones own spatial quality.

Goal #4

Transit spaces are catalyst for commercial development and private entrepeneurship.

Utilize the power of the urban road network to trigger the entrepeneural spirit of the zanzibari and help us develop the city.

Mid century planned residential expansion (ca. 1940-1980)

Post-independance unguided residential expansion (ca. 1960-1990)

Modern planned expansion (ca. 19902010)

3 typologies

Access to the road network is different per urban typology. Of the three main typologies that shape the inner city two have been planned developments. These are separated by a large area of informal sprawl with deep residential interiors.

Informal sprawl

While challenges are faced by many people in the city, it is felt most keenly by those with the least opportunities.

With its deep interiors, the lack of access to the urban roads stifles possible commercial developments by residents and by extension their opportunities to financially develop themselves

Goal #5

The informal sprawl in the heart of the city is disconnected from the rest of the city.

“Re-connect the deep residential interiors of the sprawl to become an active part of the urban network.”

Development goals

Public space is the main social connector between people. Design the city to create high quality public meeting spaces.

The swahili house centres around 3 main elements. These are the basis for Zanzibari traditions.

Use and reinterpret the 3 main elements of the swahili house for a new urban housing typology

1. The private interior

2. A strong public meeting space

3. A strong collective gathering space

Spaces used by women to organize are often marginalized or usurped for commercial use.

- Protect spaces for women specifically and create spaces where they can gather together.

Zanzibari are industrious and transit spaces are catalyst for commercial development and private entrepreneurship.

Utilize the entrepreneurial spirit of the zanzibari to help develop the city.

Development goals

The informal sprawl in the heart of the city is disconnected from the rest of the city.

Re-connect the deep residential interiors of the sprawl to become an active part of the urban network.

The overarching goal of future development is to house more people in the current urban environment.

Allow densification of population and built environment

The strength of the current dwelling typology is that it is flexible enough to provide for the many different household types that inhabit the city and the changes they undergo over time.

Allow dwellings enough flexibility in plan to facilitate the changes a household can undergo.

3. Masterplan

1. Context

2. Analysis -

3. Masterplan

transit network

strategy

Development cluster

Plan fragments

Preparing the transit networks

Re-connect the deep residential interiors of the sprawl

Starting point:

An unfinished urban network in need of improvement.

- Increase connectivity and accessibility

- Open up residential interiors

- Create quality public spaces

- Allow for the businesses opportunity

Design the city to create high quality public meeting spaces.

Utilize the entrepreneurial spirit of the zanzibari to help develop the city.

Increase connectivity and accessibility/ open residential interiors.

Strenghten existing road connections by extending the paved road connections

Urban intervention

Expanding on existing connections to respect the existing fabric and minimize impact.

Business opportunity

New routes through the residential interiors connect a lot of isolated living spaces to the city’s network.

New routes create new opportunity for business.

Development strategy

Demolition of dwellings is unavoidable. It is important to limit the impact this has on residents and communities.

- Phased development to limit impact for residents. -

- Local displacements of inhabitants to preserve communities. -

- Redevelopment of strategic plots to create space and surplus dwellings.

Step #1

Built new dwellings (generate overcapacity)

Step #2

Displace residents to new dwellings

Displacement

- Phased redevelopment to limit impact on inhabitants.

- Local displacements to protect communities

Step #3 Demolish old dwellings & store materials

Step #4 Develop roads, prepare next plot repeat

Step #1

Built new dwellings (generate overcapacity)

Step #2

Displace residents to new dwellings

Step #3

Demolish old dwellings & store materials

Step #4

Develop roads, prepare next plot

Step #1

Built new dwellings (generate overcapacity)

Step #2

Displace residents to new dwellings

Step #3

Demolish old dwellings & store materials

Step #4

Develop roads, prepare next plot

Step #1

Built new dwellings (generate overcapacity)

Step #2

Displace residents to new dwellings

Step #3

Demolish old dwellings & store materials

Step #4

Develop roads, prepare next plot

Step #1

Built new dwellings (generate overcapacity)

Step #2

Displace residents to new dwellings

Step #3

Demolish old dwellings & store materials

Step #4

Develop roads, prepare next plot

Step #1

Built new dwellings (generate overcapacity)

Step #2

Displace residents to new dwellings

Step #3

Demolish old dwellings & store materials

Step #4

Develop roads, prepare next plot

Step #1

Built new dwellings (generate overcapacity)

Step #2

Displace residents to new dwellings

Step #3

Demolish old dwellings & store materials

New transit network

With the introduction of new neighbourhood access roads, a new and better connected urban tissue is created. The new road network allows easier access to the residential interiors of the city and brings commercial opportunities to its residents.

Catalyst projects

Six densified residential developments kickstart each phase of the redevelopment process, housing the displaced residents.

These projects exemplify a new urban typology for Zanzibar city and should reflect that in its architecture.

Phase 4 best represents the different challenges. It touches the main roads (old and new). Touches 3 different uban typologies. Has a very difficult shape.

Development cluster

Phase 4 best represents the different challenges. It touches the main roads (old and new). Touches three different urban typologies and has a very difficult shape.

If we can develop a design method for this plot it could lead to a formula that can be used in many more plots, giving us a strategy for development.

1. Context

2. Analysis -

3. Masterplan

4. Cluster

New swahili neighbourhood

Block organisation

process

(re)use

5. Plan fragments

New swahili neighbourhood

The new swahili neighbourhood aims to create a vibrant urban experience. Its users have the opportunity to engage with others or retreat into the safety of their own community.

The new swahili urban neighbourhood facilitates the Zanzibar outdoor lifestyle and creates an extension to the private domain.

Traditional swahili street - Open structure - Clear spatial hierarchy - Much unclaimed space

Block organisation

Knowing the strenght of the social communities the Zanzibari already have the basis for any new urban typology should lie in the existing. The traditional swahili street is the main inspiration because of this.

Swahili street 2.0 - Clustered structure - Clear spatial hierarchy - More communal spaces - Larger public spaces

Typology

The new typology makes more effective use of land by stacking dwellings and functions while eliminating the need for the alleys. The more efficient setup supports the larger shared courtyards and open public spaces.

Typology

Linking multiple clusters creates a checkered pattern of open spaces. these alternate between public pedestrian streets in front of the dwellings and collective enclosed courts behind them.

Swahili street clusters

- Checkerboard pattern of social spaces

- Clear spatial hierarchy

- Many communal spaces

- Sheltered public spaces

- Many possible pedestrian routes

Traditional swahili street

Open structure

Clear spatial hierarchy - Much unclaimed space

Swahili street 2.0

- Clustered structure - Clear spatial hierarchy - More communal spaces - Larger public spaces

Swahili street cluster

Swahili street 2.0

Like the original swahili street, the new residential environment shows the 2-sided nature of the swahili dwelling. Connecting families through domestic ties whilst offering a plethora of shared social spaces around the collective unit.

Design process

Starting point

densely build residential development

Demolition of dwellings, building roads

Design process

#2

Define block boundaries, store materials in a central location

#3

Reserve space for courtyards

Design process

Shift blocks for public courts and uwani courts

#5

Open courtyards to create routes and social spaces

Design process

Connect 1st floor dwellings through galeries

#7

Fill in last plot. Finish project

Cluster masterplan

The new swahili urbanism

Through the reorganisation of traditional elements a new urban living environment can be made. The swahili traditions of public life and maintaining strong social ties to their environment is supported and nourished.

The new swahili streets

Plan functions

1. Urban corridors

Urban corridors provide the main commercial spaces of the plan. Dedicated shops take up the entire ground floor. These functions form a buffer to the residential interior. It is the place where you really are part of the city network.

2. Baraza streets

Baraza streets are flanked by workshop houses. These provide for the neccesary flexibility in the living area of the inhabitants to create shops without sacrificing living quality. Entrance zones allow for local meeting spots and networking.

3. Uwani courtyards

Sheltered courts with shared washrooms form the social heart of the blocks. These allow domestic activities to be shared between households and provide a sheltered space for leisure.

4. neighbourhood park

Opening up between the surrounding blocks a small open space allows for larger gatherings and play. A local meeting spot.

5. Madrassa

Tied to the neighbourhood park a kindergarten (madrassa) is a meeting point between local families. Widening the family networks.

Site functions

- Apartments

Workshop houses

workspace/shop

galeries

Leftover space

Central in the plan is a small plot. Due to the shape constraints of the site the swahili blocks cannot fill this void. We take advantage of that to use it as a temporary storage site. When most of the project is built we utilize it for a public funtion, a kindergarten.

Local limestone

- Soft, brittle in use, much maintenance required

- Difficult to produce, energy intensive

- Concrete blocks

- Strong, low maintenance, durable.

- Imported from abroad,

Crush and reuse as substrate for bricks

- Retain colour and expression of material.

- Available from demolition

When good: direct reuse as construction material. When bad: crush and use as screed for streets.

Demolition and re-use.

The area we build on is not a slum. Many of the buildings are built from good materials. To counter the waste we produce, part of the material is reused. Either directly in buildings or as a substrate for other functions.

The main construction materials in the area are concreteor cement (blocks), coral lime, wood and corrugated steel.

Material

- Easily accessible

- Re-use

- Local production

- Easy in use

Concrete framing

Main load bearing structure

- Strong grid structure for flexible floorplans.

- Durable.

- Non alterable. Fixed elements for long time

Compressed cement blocks

Communal spaces and accents

- Recycled local lime substrate

- Strong, easy to produce.

- Smaller blocks, more freedom of expression

- Concrete blocks separating walls, vertical expansion

- Easily accessible - Strong, easy to produce. - Quick to build

- Corrugated steel plate Roofs, temporary cladding

- Easily accessible - lightweight - Quick to build

Context

2. Analysis

Masterplan

4. Cluster

5. Plan elements

- Apartments

- Workshop houses

- Commercial workspace/shop - galeries - dwellings

Apartments.

Benches as meeting spots around entrances

Brise soleil for privacy and sun screen

Groundfloor spaces for flexible use.

Functions

Sheltered courtyard for laundry, play and leisure

Apartments.

Main street with dedicated commercial spaces

Ground floor

First floor

Second floor

Facade: Baraza

Baraza street

Facade: Neighbourhood

Neighbourhood street

Section

Section

Baraza entrance zone

- Mark the entrance of the collective zone.

- Guards the entry, social control.

- Creates meeting spaces for the inhabitants of the block.

floor

floor

Apartments

With the introduction of apartments new type of households can find a dwelling suited to them.

Small families, independent elderly, starters, temporary workers and even students don’t need a family house like the swahili house. Apartments of different sizes help take care of the housing needs of these groups.

Studio 32m2 4x8m 1/2 BR appartment 64m2 8x8m

3 BR appartment 96m2 12x8m family house/ maisonnette 128m2 12x8x6m

A standardized development unit of 4x8x3 is used to plan the buildings.

Combining these units we can plan for a large amount of dwelling types, without needing the exact program yet.

Design flexibility

Because its not know which kind of households need to be displaced we need to be free with our plan. Basing al dwellings on a unit of 4x8m gives us some flexibility in plan. Linking them together where needed to create the required size for each household.

Reacting on changing houshold compositions can be difficult. A template that can fascilitate many typologies is required to design in a flexible manner.

Family apartment:

3 development units, 4 bedrooms

Small family apartment:

2 development units. 2 bedrooms

Family apartment:

2 development units, 3 bedrooms

Couple/loner apartment:

1 development units. 1 bedroom

Workshop house, small: 2 development units. 1+ bedrooms

Asante sana!