Reading Response 5 – Sociability – Ife's 212 Understanding Architecture Section

Project: Rugero Health Center, Rwanda

Architect/Studio: ASA Studio (Active Social Architecture)

Client: Health Builders + Rugero Sector

Year: 2016-2018

The Rugero HC is located in the Rwandan sector of Rugero, a characteristically rural area containing approximately 35,000+ inhabitants. The center has played a major role in increasing health care accessibility for people in the area. Before its construction, people had to travel several miles to receive health care services and such travel could be complicated by a lack of access to reliable transportation. Traveling long distances is now less of an issue with the new health center and community members are able to receive health care in a more timely manner. As a place to receive health services, the Center is expected to contribute to improving maternal well-being, reducing infant mortality, and reducing the prevalence and transmission of infectious diseases among the population.

The idea of the project was to provide a long-lasting health care facility that would employ locally sourced materials and traditional building knowledge. The building itself is built from bricks, stone, metal roofing, and wood ceilings all sourced locally which has helped reduce the overall costs of the project.

As a single-level construction featuring ramps and smooth surfaces, all spaces in the building are made highly accessible to diverse types of users. While many common spaces and corridors are connected to the outdoors, all waiting areas are shaded. Additional shading devices, wall perforations, green patios, and skylights help ventilate and provide interior daylighting to the Center. The use of natural light to illuminate covered and indoor spaces help minimize the building’s energy demands and overcome issues associated with occasional power outages. The building also integrates rainwater collection and reuse systems that have the capacity to collect 70,000 L of rain, which is filtered and fed to toilets, showers and sinks.

The project was also intended to involve members of the community. One way local people have been involved is through its construction. To promote gender equality in the typically male-dominated construction business, 50% of the builders hired were woman from the local community. For these woman, the job opportunity has enabled them to earn an income higher than what they would earn through other income sources and sufficient to support themselves and their family.