Sponge Settlement
Location: Mathare, Nairobi, Kenya
Area: 60,000 m2
Budget: 100.000$
To be completed in: 2025
Client: Local communities
With:
Kambi Safi
Università degli Studi di Bologna
Sponge Settlement
Location: Mathare, Nairobi, Kenya
Area: 60,000 m2
Budget: 100.000$
To be completed in: 2025
Client: Local communities
With:
Kambi Safi
Università degli Studi di Bologna
Sponge Settlement is a project designed to improve the open spaces in Mathare, Nairobi's second-largest slum with around 500,000 residents. The proposal includes a pilot project to test water harvesting and recycling systems, crucial for a community's water needs. It also features an open-air classroom for a primary school, a playground, and urban farming to enhance food security. To support local businesses, cargo bikes will be introduced for efficient transportation. Additionally, anti-erosion systems will help prevent flooding, and existing sports facilities will be upgraded to create safer recreational spaces for residents.
Sponge Settlement is a project designed to improve the open spaces in Mathare, Nairobi's second-largest slum with around 500,000 residents. The proposal includes a pilot project to test water harvesting and recycling systems, crucial for a community's water needs. It also features an open-air classroom for a primary school, a playground, and urban farming to enhance food security. To support local businesses, cargo bikes will be introduced for efficient transportation. Additionally, anti-erosion systems will help prevent flooding, and existing sports facilities will be upgraded to create safer recreational spaces for residents.
The emergencies:
The emergencies:
In May 2024, 200 people living close to the river Mathare died in the slum due to severe flooding (picture on the left). In response, the Government of Kenya cleared a buffer of 30 m on each side of the river to prevent further risk. Thousands of families lost their homes and are waiting for compensation. With an estimated population of 500,000 inhabitants Mathare is the second-largest slum in Nairobi after Kibera, but has received little attention and support so far. A fire broke out during our site visit in May 2024. The residents live in a state of constant emergency, struggling to face the common threats of living in a slum (picture on the right).
In May 2024, 200 people living close to the river Mathare died in the slum due to severe flooding (picture on the left). In response, the Government of Kenya cleared a buffer of 30 m on each side of the river to prevent further risk. Thousands of families lost their homes and are waiting for compensation.
With an estimated population of 500,000 inhabitants Mathare is the second-largest slum in Nairobi after Kibera, but has received little attention and support so far. A fire broke out during our site visit in May 2024. The residents live in a state of constant emergency, struggling to face the common threats of living in a slum (picture on the right).
The potential:
The potential:
The clearing is also an opportunity to reorganize the river banks, adding vital services and open spaces and protecting the area from future land grabbing.
Mathare demographics consist of a rich mix of kenyan tribes, international refugees and different religions. The residents learned to cooperate and are open to test solutions to improve their living conditions.
Mathare already has many open spaces available, so it is not necessary to buy big chunks of land and evict people to allocate the necessary services.
There are also many groups of local volunteers who take care of public gardens and manage open spaces such as playgrounds and sport facilities.
The clearing is also an opportunity to reorganize the river banks, adding vital services and open spaces and protecting the area from future land grabbing.
Mathare demographics consist of a rich mix of kenyan tribes, international refugees and different religions. The residents learned to cooperate and are open to test solutions to improve their living conditions.
Mathare already has many open spaces available, so it is not necessary to buy big chunks of land and evict people to allocate the necessary services.
There are also many groups of local volunteers who take care of public gardens and manage open spaces such as playgrounds and sport facilities.
We asked the community leaders, school teachers, volunteers, and sport teams how they wish to change the open spaces in the slum.
We asked the community leaders, school teachers, volunteers, and sport teams how they wish to change the open spaces in the slum.
Access to water, public toilets, space for urban farming, outdoor classrooms for schools, playgrounds, and improvement of the sport facilities were the most recurrent requests.
Access to water, public toilets, space for urban farming, outdoor classrooms for schools, playgrounds, and improvement of the sport facilities were the most recurrent requests.
Testing the sponge-city concept inside a slum:
Testing the sponge-city concept inside a slum:
The proposal includes a waste recycling program, and a series of water retention facilities that delay the discharge of water into the Mathare river and at the same time provide services to the residents and generate revenue.
The proposal includes a waste recycling program, and a series of water retention facilities that delay the discharge of water into the Mathare river and at the same time provide services to the residents and generate revenue.
Productive landscapes
Productive landscapes
The wide areas along the river banks are suitable for productive activities, which are also less sensitive to flood risk.
The wide areas along the river banks are suitable for productive activities, which are also less sensitive to flood risk.
A sustainable playground of recycled car tyres
A sustainable playground of recycled car tyres
The playground will host sculptures resembling some animals living in Nairobi's National Park and will be built entirely from recycled car tires and steel.
The playground will host sculptures resembling some animals living in Nairobi's National Park and will be built entirely from recycled car tires and steel.
Creating new jobs with microcredit programs
Creating new jobs with microcredit programs
Microcredit programs will be offered to foster local entrepreneurship, complemented by strategic economic planning, provision of cargo bikes, and ongoing support for repair and maintenance.
Microcredit programs will be offered to foster local entrepreneurship, complemented by strategic economic planning, provision of cargo bikes, and ongoing support for repair and maintenance.
