"The design team at PARALLEL STUDIO complements this environmental approach with an integrated water feature, which holds cultural and symbolic significance within an Islamic tradition, where water is associated with life. Timber framing and exposed structural elements express material honesty and ease of construction, reflecting locally familiar building techniques. The roof form extends beyond the walls to provide shade and protection from heavy rainfall, reinforcing the building's environmental responsiveness."
"Internally, the space is deliberately flexible and non-hierarchical. Low furniture, open floor areas, and adaptable zones support reading, learning, discussion, and communal activities, particularly for children, allowing the library to function as both an educational and social space. Lei Wa Lakom Library is part of the Parallel Gives program, an architectural initiative that explores how small-scale, socially driven projects can generate long-term impact through thoughtful, context-responsive design."
Lei Wa Lakom Library in Kazole Village is a lightweight, climate-sensitive building that prioritizes openness, adaptability, and human scale. Architectural strategies draw from Swahili principles of shaded spaces, cross-ventilation, and visual permeability to keep interiors naturally comfortable and connected to the surroundings. The envelope uses perforated opaque corrugated panels to filter daylight while ensuring privacy, safety, and air circulation. The design incorporates an integrated water feature with cultural significance, timber framing and exposed structure for material honesty, and an extended roof for shade and rain protection. Interior spaces are flexible and non-hierarchical, supporting education and communal activities, especially for children. The project is part of the Parallel Gives program focused on small-scale, context-responsive social impact.
Read at designboom | architecture & design magazine
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