veranda of life (2023)

Mayukwayukwa, Zambia.

Since 1966, Zambia has hosted Angolan refugees due to political upheaval. The oldest African refugee settlement, Mayukwayukwa, was established. Today, Zambia shelters about 105,000 refugees, primarily from Congo, Burundi, and Somalia, with active NGO programs promoting community development and ensuring dignity and improvement opportunities. Access to the site is through dirt roads, with the closest main road approximately 200 meters away. Water is provided by over 100 handpumps within 400 to 600 meters in Mayukwayukwa. A partially constructed 10x10m building is present, intended for integration into the Sustainable Development Center. The site’s flat topography will facilitate construction.

Veranda of Life advocates for connected spaces without compromising void areas. It suggests using veranda corridors to separate building masses, offering ample communal space and shelter from sun and rain. These verandas are seamlessly integrated into the building design, forming semi-outdoor spaces that enhance sustainability and civic architecture.