Place › Nyeri /Kenya/
Date › 2016
Client › UN Habitat
Authors › O. Nováček, T. Pozdech, M. Trebula, K. Smatanová
Type › Urban Study
Status › 3. place /International competition/
Slum upgrading Nyeri
In the heart of Nyeri, a Kenyan city, lies a challenge familiar to many rapidly growing urban areas: informal settlements marginalized by poverty, environmental threats, and lack of access to basic services. Our project embraces this complexity – not through top-down directives, but with a participatory, phased approach that places people at the center of transformation. Instead of predefined solutions, we began with mapping and listening – identifying not only the problems but also the hidden potential of the community. We discovered a resilient social structure, a dense network of pedestrian routes, and untapped opportunities in urban agriculture, micro-entrepreneurship, and community energy.
Our four-step plan connects design with social inclusion:
- Partnership with the city, mapping of needs, and laying the groundwork for development.
- Revitalization of public spaces – squares, community centers, and playgrounds that empower vulnerable groups.
- Redesign of the street network to support mobility, safety, and the local economy – without displacing residents.
- Gradual housing renewal and legal integration of the settlement into the formal structure of the city.
At its core, the project is a plan for urban dignity – offering safe housing, better health, local job opportunities, and a stronger voice for the community. It emphasizes local materials, local skills, and local ownership, transforming the slum from a space of exclusion into a model of inclusive, sustainable urban development.
