sharon davis design uses handmade bricks and eucalyptus to form housing in rwanda

sharon davis design uses handmade bricks and eucalyptus to form housing in rwanda
photo by bruce engel
all images courtesy of sharon davis design

sharon davis design has completed the construction of two share house facilities in rwinkwayu, rwanda. realized in partnership with rwanda village enterprise for partners in health, and the rwandan ministry of health, the dormitory represents a huge step forward for the country’s local healthcare system.

the new york city-based studio developed a scheme for the hillside site that responds to the location’s hot, dry climate, while working with the client’s tight budget. this was made possible through the use of locally sourced materials. a neighbourhood women’s cooperative was employed to produce the handmade bricks for the main wall construction, while eucalyptus was arranged to create a screen that wraps around the uphill side of the structure; offering a sense of enclosure and privacy for residents. stone from a nearby quarry was laid down for the foundations and walkways. the unit’s ventilated roof cavity has been clad in clay tiles ideal for thermal and acoustic performance. this combination of natural elements was selected to ensure that the residences visually connect with the more traditional ways of building in the region. to support the district’s economy, approximately 90% of labor was completed by inhabitants of the rural village of rwinkwavu; while women represented at minimum one-third of the staff throughout the construction.

local materials such as handmade bricks and eucalyptus have been employed in the building’s construction
photo by bruce engel

each bedroom features its own exterior space that looks out over the valley to the west, with large overhangs integrated into the design that provide rain and heat protection. these private spaces are connected to shared bathrooms and common areas via a covered and screened outdoor walkway. collectively, the buildings house 16 people (8 doctors or nurses).

sharon davis on the project: ‘more than a dormitory for doctors and nurses, this project means that staff not only live closer to the hospital – saving time and money – but quality housing near the hospital will boost morale, enhance connections between staff and community and will, we hope, create a village within this village.’
a eucalyptus screen wraps around the uphill side of the house offering a sense of enclosure and privacy
photo by bruce engel

the housing project is part of a post-war rebuilding effort in which the rwandan government asked partners in health (PIH) to help strengthen the public health system in two under served districts in the eastern province. it sits adjacent to the local 110-bed rwinkwavu hospital. PIH has already built doctor’s housing in butaro, alongside the 150-bed butaro district hospital. both realized by boston-based firm MASS design group, they bring medical care to a district that previously didn’t have a functional hospital, while also serving as a medical education centre for east africa.
common space
photo by bruce engel

the opening of the partners in health housing in rwinkwayu, rwanda, marks sharon davis’s second project in rwanda, following her women’s opportunity center in kayonza.

profile view of the dormitory at dusk
photo by bruce engel

the houses have been envisioned to visually connect with the more traditional ways of building in the area
photo by bruce engel
panoramic view of the eucalyptus screen
photo by bruce engel
the residence illuminated by night
photo by bruce engel