Corporate
Corporate offices, Lusaka
House 6AK stands in an indigenous Eco garden with a decked Cantilevered beams at its heart.
Located in a small town on the South Side of Lusaka overlooking the majestic mount Makulu Mountains to the North and the busy town of lusaka to the south, House 6AK stands in an indigenous Eco garden with a decked Cantilevered beams at its heart. Designed as a retreat for a family where inhabitants are encouraged to interact with one another via the central courtyard forming the link between the various spaces and volumes….
Project Summary
K340+
Total Cost
14Months
Construction Duration
40x 30
Meters Plot
An ecological, family, and Climate Positive project
As part of our mission to shape a better world, this project is another showcase of how we can help modern cities address sustainability and climate change issues.
Landscape – The District is located between mountain and hills in a natural landscape of ‘chilanga ’, forming part of what is known as ecological landscape The ecological landscape has become increasingly endangered in recent years. The holding idea behind the form of the house – a brock mass rising from the Garden – whilst retaining some of the vegetation on the beams and welcoming indigenous fauna to nest and inhabit it. The building has been pulled back from the street to allow for the eco environment to take over the remainder of the plot, exhibiting the beauty of the natural flora in lieu of the manicured green lawns of neighboring properties.
Lighting Uniqueness
Light – One is constantly aware of varying light qualities throughout the day; this is reiterated by a skylight cutting across the living room space from east to west, objectifying the passing of time by making it constantly visible. The window openings have been apportioned and arranged according to the view it frames, all the while letting in the level of sunlight required to keep the spaces cool in summer and warm in winter. The western elevation has been left devoid of any window openings to prevent the harsh western sun from penetrating the house and excessively heating the interior, but balconies have been positioned in a way for the inhabitants to still take advantage of the colourful sunsets over mountain and Hills .
Chance for Urban Generation
The living space, kitchen and courtyard are intersected by the exposed beams and columns, which cantilevers over the front door to protect it from the elements, while announcing its presence to the street. The interior spaces are orientated towards the views and the sanctuary of the courtyard, which also acts as an extension of the living room and outdoor dining area. The main bedroom overlooks the eco gardens and Hills set to enhance the view by seemingly integrating the building with the natural beauty of the mountains.
Planning a Sustainable Way
Materials – The material palette was built around budgetary constraints and the two most commonly used building materials in this part of the world: rough cast off-shutter concrete and the humble conc block. For the off-shutter concrete, the shutter boards were laid in a random manner to prevent the concrete from looking too controlled whilst adding to the laid-back mountain aesthetic. The bricks are locally sourced non-face block which were bagged plastered and painted to expose the texture and enhance the feeling of engaging with a handmade object. At the same time it renders the building in a white coat which exhibits the changes of atmospheric lighting conditions.
“The project demonstrated that it is possible to turn areas that were once looked as non-inhabitable into sustainable, low cost communities for people to live and work in. ”
Patrick Musonda
Site & Structural Engineer