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Nairobi, Kenya

Don Orione Community Centre offers an invaluable service to disabled children in Ongata Rongai, a dusty dry small town on the outskirts of Nairobi.

The Landscape design seeks to provide a healing landscape with the minimal budget available to the school. Within these restrictions, the team had to solve issues of circulation, create a stimulating environment and provide much need shade. Two key elements, movement and shade, dictated the design.

The design uses trees planted in repetition to create shaded pathways and a soothing environment; repetition was a key tool. The most exciting element is the play ‘tunnel,’ which is a planted area that encourages the children to run up and down between the trees.

The choice for the species for the avenue trees throughout the whole project is the indigenous Markamia lutea which was chosen for its rich green foliage and bright cheerful flowers, again with the children’s wellbeing in mind.