Browsing by Author "Ndibwami, Alex"

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Architecture as Environment: perceptions on gender and community as determinants of comfort and energy use in buildings
(Network for Comfort and Energy Use in Buildings, 2011-09-23) Ndibwami, Alex
This paper investigates the extent to which notions of gender and community are expressed and promoted through materiality, spatial quality and passive design as a way to promote comfort and efficient energy use. Generally, comfort and efficient energy use may be achieved as a result of: (i) familiarity and ownership; (ii) beauty, security, safety, privacy, autonomy and interactive spaces, and; (iii) appropriate lighting, ventilation and indoor-outdoor links. Contrary to the biased/myopic sentiments that it is about women–their domestic, political, spiritual and societal role, gender is used as a springboard to promote a more community oriented agenda and consequently how the built environment ought to be shaped in that regard.
Attempts Towards Progressive Teaching and Learning at the Faculty of the Built Environment of Uganda Martyrs University
(Uganda Martyrs University Press, 2018) Ndibwami, Alex
Demystifying fired clay brick: Comparative analysis of different materials for walls, with fired clay brick:
(PLEA, 2016) Ahimbisibwe, Alex; Ndibwami, Alex
Low-income tropical housing in Uganda today is a complex issue that extends beyond the physical dwelling and encapsulates psychological notions, i.e. human ideals, needs, wants, aspirations, and economic ability. Rural construction continues to expend significant quantities of energy and environmental resources in production of fired clay brick, the locally favoured choice. Regrettably, the notion that this material is cheap escalates negligent handling during production, transportation and construction, which then generate large quantities of waste. This paper presents a study that seeks to evaluate people’s perceptions of the production and usage of fired Clay Bricks, then to propose viable alternatives. People are a crucial entity in the struggle to: improve fuel efficiency at local Kilns, increase reuse/ repurposing of construction waste, then raise awareness about material embodied energy and subsequent energy demand on communities. Despite evidence of associated negative impacts of brick production like deforestation, excessive soil extraction, energy intensive production, and high waste, there is still rampant unregulated production. Cost, being a primary consideration for many construction stakeholders, is interrogated as part of this search for a viable alternative. The alternative shall endeavour to minimize production energy and construction waste, and possibly save up to 20% on the building cost. This study culminates in a student lead design-build project. The Display Space at Uganda Martyrs University is a built attempt to investigate alternative wall materials as well as building cost. The Space was designed and shall be built by students of the Faculty of the Built Environment. The building structure is a combination of rammed earth walls and site produced stabilized soil blocks to replace the commonly used brick. Since precedent success stories reveal that a creative force emerges when all the residents, stakeholders and consultants come together as a collaborative community. It is envisaged that a creative force shall emerge from community involvement in this project with the hope of disseminating concerns that shall propel the community residents towards shaping more regenerative environments.
Embodied energy of low income rural housing in Uganda
(PLEA, 2016) Niwamara, T; Olweny, Mark R. O.; Ndibwami, Alex
Embodied energy is an important consideration in discussions related to the sustainability of the construction sector. As part of this dialogue, this paper presents a developing country context of how these can values of energy for construction. The study investigated different housing sizes and typologies. Data collected from various embodied energy databases was the basis of an initial investigation, followed by serve to enable a transition in energy related discourse. In East Africa, the energy related discourse is largely concerned with the reduction in the use of wood fuel, which is the predominant energy source for cooking, with little attention to the an in depth exploration of values for specific building materials used in a typical rural building, with two materials, fired clay bricks, and cement standing out. The investigation of the fired clay bricks current and future impact of the buildings themselves, that is, lifetime energy consumption. The primary goal of this study was to determine the embodied energy (EE) of low-income tropical housing to better appreciate the relative suggested slightly lower embodied energy values that found in the literature, although it is evident that the sources of energy used for the processing of the bricks is of concern for embodied carbon.
Investigating the drivers of energy transitions between communities, local governments and non-governmental organisations.
(UNESCO, 2016) Ndibwami, Alex; Candia, H
Embodied energy is an important consideration in discussions related to the sustainability of the construction sector. As part of this dialogue, this paper presents a developing country context of how these can values of energy for construction. The study investigated different housing sizes and typologies. Data collected from various embodied energy databases was the basis of an initial investigation, followed by serve to enable a transition in energy related discourse. In East Africa, the energy related discourse is largely concerned with the reduction in the use of wood fuel, which is the predominant energy source for cooking, with little attention to the an in depth exploration of values for specific building materials used in a typical rural building, with two materials, fired clay bricks, and cement standing out. The investigation of the fired clay bricks current and future impact of the buildings themselves, that is, lifetime energy consumption. The primary goal of this study was to determine the embodied energy (EE) of low-income tropical housing to better appreciate the relative suggested slightly lower embodied energy values that found in the literature, although it is evident that the sources of energy used for the processing of the bricks is of concern for embodied carbon.
Lost opportunities and emerging possibilities: the place for collaboration in the built environment
(2012-06-27) Ndibwami, Alex
This paper is part of an ongoing study that delves into the issues that inspire and/or inhibit collaboration between built environment practitioners in Uganda. It is situated in the context of discourse on the roles of architects and other built environment professionals in contemporary global practice. The bigger questions are perhaps when to, how to, with whom to and why even collaborate? The main aim of the paper is to discuss the level and extent of collaboration in architecture practice in Uganda. This discussion has been informed by the review of existing literature on the subject, previous and on-going projects, and preliminary analyses of surveys of the architecture fraternity in Uganda. The paper reaffirms two things: (i) the need for a well collaborated view of the built environment and architecture’s role in this regard; and (ii) the opportunities in collaboration that architecture practice in Uganda ought to seize in order to realise socially responsive and environmentally friendly architecture.
Online architectural education: reflections on COVID-19 emergency remote learning in East Africa
(Sage, 2022-08-18) Olweny, Mark RO; Ndibwami, Alex; Ahimbisibwe, Achilles
This paper investigates how students in two schools of architecture in East Africa, engaged with educational activities during the early phase of the COVID-19 lockdown. The COVID-19 lockdown and shift to emergency remote teaching and learning raised a number of questions for architectural education. These relate to access, equity and pedagogical approaches, which emerged through this study. The paper presents the findings of the study carried out in the University of Rwanda, and Uganda Martyrs University, along with the implications of the findings for architectural education. Making use of an online questionnaire distributed via QualtricsXM, the study attracted 70 student participants. The paper concludes with some suggestions for architectural educators as they rethink the embedded pedagogical traditions of architectural education, and how these must adapt for the future in order to cope with future shocks and disruptions.
People's perception of 'New' architecture: a diaogue between the architect, the architecture and the consumer
(Faculty of the Built Environment, Uganda Martyrs University, Kampala, Uganda, 2013) Ndibwami, Alex
While the design process is meant to be participatory, the limits to how many (potential) users are involved and how the design team interprets their needs is perhaps often substituted by empirical evidence, architectural theory and/ or logic. It is by no surprise that buildings the world over generate debate, some more than others; suggesting what else people think or would have preferred. Indeed, the issues raised may point to the overall aesthetic, how relevant, functional, sustainable or context specific projects are. These same issues at times get mixed up with tendencies to associate and view architects as having an elitist approach to their profession. Nonetheless, it is evident that the root cause of such concerns may be specific to a given culture. This paper focuses on four buildings located in East Africa on the Uganda Martyrs University campus. These buildings were conceived, designed and built between 2003 and 2010, the second decade of the University’s existence. They include: the terraced Houses (2005), by the main entry to the University, the Thomas Moore Office block (2007), the Onyango Registry Building (2008) and the Anna Montana Building for Health Sciences (2010). These buildings were identified because they stand out in terms of location and uniqueness in their context. The choice of buildings was prompted by the debate they have since generated. The paper set out to obtain pertinent feedback from the community and how the original intentions of the design team successfully or not, manifest themselves. Ultimately, the study sought answers to three key questions: (i) What is considered ‘architecture’ in this context? (ii) How are local architecture trends informed (or not) by contemporary global practice and architectural history and/ or theory? (iii) What are some of those things architects probably miss or take for granted during the design and/ or construction process?
Rural (low income) housing: inspiring communities to shape their future: Paper presented at PLEA 2015 Conference
(PLEA, 2015) Ahimbisibwe, Achilles; Ndibwami, Alex; Niwamara, T
This paper details patterns of energy consumption for domestic buildings in urban areas of Uganda. The paper shows the range of energy sources employed by households, the level of consumption of energy, as well as common appliances and equipment in use. The findings suggest strong demand for energy, but largely from solid fuel sources with most households making use of firewood or charcoal for cooking. While currently low by world standards, electrical energy use was largely for lighting and entertainment. Efforts at increasing access to electricity to reduce pressures on dwindling forest resources, although a noble goal, has significant challenges, linked to limited and erratic availability of electricity, approaches to building design, as well as lifestyle transformations that contribute to a growth in energy demand. The study itself contributes to discourse on energy use and energy efficiency in buildings, filling the gap in the availability of information and geared to informing future policy and interventions.
Sustainable Energy Transitions: Changing the ‘Business as Usual’ Trajectory in Sub-Saharan African Urban Areas
(The Center for African Development Policy Research, 2018) Ndibwami, Alex; Borchers, Mark; Euston-Brown, Megan; Bawakyillenuo, Simon; Batchelor, Simon
This paper describes a novel approach to helping municipal authorities address the sustainable energy challenges associated with rapidly growing urban populations in Sub-Saharan Africa. Population in Africa is expected to double between 2010 and 2040, and substantial urban growth is expected in small and medium-sized cities where local government capacity constraints are most serious. A long-term partnership between municipal authorities, NGOs, and academics can build capacity, and a prescribed strategy can lead to progress on the ground. In order to contribute to future action, the paper argues for a greater role of local government in sustainable energy transitions and presents some of the lessons learned from work in municipality-based energy work undertaken in South Africa over a 17-year period. It provides evidence of change, but more importantly, considers the process by which that change occurred and the intentional strategy of policy influence. Several South African cities engaged in this process with the assistance of the non-profit organization Sustainable Energy Africa have been able to move to greater renewable energy and energy efficiency implementation and have strengthened their energy capacity and governance frameworks. The paper reviews the changing energy characteristics of South African cities and describes the key processes that create a policy environment conducive to moving away from business as usual and responding to sustainable energy imperatives around clean energy and energy poverty. The use of energy modeling to support municipal energy strategy development is also described as an important informant for decision-makers regarding the consequences of decisions taken, or not taken, today. As such, it provides the groundwork for transferring the methodological process to other countries, while the latter part of the paper draws on recent experiences in Uganda and Ghana in replicating the work.
To Build or Not to Build: Going Live is [Not] Just Being Practical!
(Association of Architectural Educators, 2014) Ahimbisibwe, Achilles; Olweny, Mark R. O.; Ndibwami, Alex; Thomas, Paul; Lubingo, Mathieu; Katta, Jude
Increasingly students and faculty alike are calling for a “hands-on” approach to architecture and building construction as an integral part of the architectural education. Schools of architecture have implemented courses to address this need, notably: the Harvard Graduate School of Design's 'Project on the City’; the design-build ‘Rural Studio’ run by Auburn University; and the Over-the-Rhine Design-Build Studio out of Miami University. Such activities are considered a good way to enhance problem-solving skills, dealing with client groups, working with different materials, construction techniques and methods, and preparing students for future practice. The courses run largely in parallel to the established design studio, mostly as electives or summer courses, but nevertheless, present as a ‘tectonic shift’,1 moving from the traditional structure of architecture education, based largely on the studio, with associated support courses, to an approach that seeks to supplement the learning through interactive projects that expose students to a range of experiences to enhance the architectural education experience. Regardless of the significance of these moves internationally, there has been only limited penetration of this approach in architectural education in East Africa. In the context of East Africa, the studio is regarded as being where students demonstrate their creative abilities, viewed as designing flamboyant buildings, often without any real sites or context to deal with - in effect, poor imitations of the real world. The notion of ‘practical’ gets lost within the context of architectural education as the nurturing of individuals who are ‘Master Builders’ or ‘Experts’, but not versed in the actual production of architecture, and how to respond directly the needs of clients. A perennial plea from applicants to the architecture programme at Uganda Martyrs University (UMU) is to join a ‘practical programme’. This indicates a demand for something more, or different, from architectural education, although it does raise a question: ‘what does practical mean in the context of architecture education?’ From a practice point of view, this suggests practice-ready graduates. However, with students only exposed to limited architecture practice as part of their educational experience, this raises two questions; how do students acquire the necessary skills to enhance their educational experience, and more significant, what is the purpose of architectural education? This is important with regard to future practice in the context of an unknown future. The lack of engagement with practical courses makes teaching of architecture somewhat difficult, with students generally unable to seek innovative solutions as a consequence. Thus, there is a need to engage students beyond mere book knowledge as part of their architectural education. A design-build workshop, hosted by Uganda Martyrs University (UMU), was to introduce students to some practical aspects of architecture, in this case through the use of research on poured earth construction. The three main objectives of the workshop were to: expose students to the nature of materials; engage with a learn-by-doing construction approach and; to educate in collaboration with fellow students. This paper reports on an initial venture into live projects in the context of architectural education in Uganda. It looks at the opportunities and challenges associated with this educational approach in the context of numerous north-south initiatives, but only a few schemes initiated from the global south.