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Nairobi, Kenya

A new phase to one of the oldest malls in Nairobi's Westlands.

The brief was to design a roof garden as an exterior foodcourt. Being in the heart of Nairobi, where there is a lack of public space, the intent was to create a valued green urban space, which could provide a feeling of a forest in the city whilst introducing much-needed habitat for bird and insect life.

The design is a simple fragmented grid of trees seeking to provide a cooling shaded environment and water line, which allows for additional cooling and a play element as children can walk up and down the rill.

The project is engineered with a suspended slab to accommodate the planting depths under the paving. Due to the conditions on the roof, the architects choose to work with Ficus Benjamina to ensure the trees would perform with the limited soil depth and high winds. This project is currently nearing completion.