To what extent does traditional Swahili Architecture influence the contemporary East African designs of Urko Sanchez Architects’ with specific reference to Swahili Dream Apartments and Red Pepper House?

Walking down the streets of Old Town Mombasa gives me a taste of rich history. As an art lover, I began appreciating local architecture and qualities it shared with art, like aesthetic and meaning. Like art, each building has messages or intentions rendered alive. Swahili architecture has been a constant presence in my surroundings, and it's influence is evident on Kenya's Coast. Today, design has evolved due to changing needs, technological advancements, and trends with traditional/cultural designs being lost to them. Nevertheless, instead of investigating how Swahili architecture has evolved, I am interested in whether-how much it has influenced design today, specifically why those design choices were made. The architectural designs of Urko Sanchez Architects, exemplified in projects like Swahili Dream Apartments and Red Pepper House, showcase a significant influence of traditional Swahili architecture, specifically in the principles of materiality, sustainability, adaptation to surroundings and as aesthetics, reflecting a harmonious fusion of traditional architecture and Modernism. This essay outlines the history of Swahili architecture, identifying its key features, drawing connections between function, purpose, and aesthetic principle using primary source images from Old Town Mombasa (where Sanchez has visited) examining how he has drawn inspiration to implement in his works and concludes with the extent of influence.

Through interviews with architects from Urko Sanchez such as Mr. Neeraj Chandi, the works of Gerald Steyn to understand Swahili architecture, and posts from acclaimed architecture websites such as Rethinking the Future and ArchDaily to provide images to analyze, this essay will determine the pervasiveness of Swahili architecture on this practice.

Interviews allow for firsthand, reliable information. I will structure my interviews into two sections: context of the buildings, then questions on design choices, allowing for rich and analytical discussions. The articles and pictures from the magazines, journals, and blogs aid in defining elements of Swahili architecture, with journals providing their function and purpose. This shall provide ample information and context regarding Swahili architecture and the works of Urko Sanchez to deeply analyze and draw an informed conclusion. By localizing my analysis of Swahili architecture to the Kenyan setting, essentially employing contextual analysis, I can effectively and accurately analyze the buildings in the right context. This research process uncovers the importance of context and how culture shapes architecture and architects, specifically through aesthetic principles, function, and purpose. To avoid bias/misinterpretation from secondary sources, I will compare and evaluate other sources, using relevant and recurring information.

This question is worthy of research because it has not been heavily explored, and may spark creativity in the field of architecture. The conclusions arrived at will enable a greater understanding of Swahili and Modern architecture, and essentially, the interplay between Cultural and Modern architecture.

Swahili Architecture stems from the exchange of culture, trade, and migration. Cities like Lamu, Mombasa and Malindi on the Kenyan Coast were an extension of trade between India and the Persian Gulf. 800AD to 1500 AD was known as the Golden Era of cosmopolitanism in the Kenyan Swahili Coasts, as there was the influence of Indian and Omani Arab merchants and the local people known as the Waswahili (Neeraj Chandi, 2018). This attracted the Portuguese, who sacked the cities 4 times and moved their base from Malindi to Mombasa, building the still standing Fort Jesus between 1593-1596 to protect their base (Judy Aldrick, 2013, p. 11-15). Soon after, Kenya became a part of the British East African Protectorate in 1920 onwards, and the British encouraged Europeans to settle in the Coastal Areas. This ultimately formed an era where Europeans, Arabs and local Swahilis co-existed on the Coast of Kenya which influenced the architecture and cultural practices (Neeraj Chandi, 2018). The design of Swahili homes informs us of the customs, religious practices and beliefs of Swahili Architecture as they dictate the way the space was created. (Bharani Sri Gujuluva, 2022)

The Swahili Door is one of the most famous and well-known aspects of Swahili Architecture, which boasts the unique feature of being able to tell the story of it's residents. These facades are a way of showing power, mostly economical, through motifs. The bigger the door, the more power the resident has. The rectangular frames portray older designs-straight lintels and arched doors which came after Omani and Indian influence in the late 19th Century, with the curved frames a significant Indian influence.

The center usually holds Quranic/Arabic inscriptions, hinting at the homeowner's religion. (Madenge, 2022) Some also have metal spikes which are believed to be a way of deterring elephants from unwelcome visits, influenced by Indian Merchants. India was full of wild elephants roaming the streets, and the spikes were a way of decreasing their visits. (Suitbert Elzear Komba, 2016, p. 58-60) The structure, which creates the sense of security and power, is composed of frames that are vertical posts mounted by lintel, with the doors meeting in the center. The material of these doors need to be thick, heavy, but easy to carve, therefore timber and mahogany were ideal. I believe the carvings tell us about the homeowner's job or their ethnicity (Arab or Indian). Floral designs were associated with Indians, geometric with accountants, and wavy lines/ropes to fisherman or those who made a living by the sea, and chains to slave trade or security (Janet M Purdy, n.d., p. 63-75).

Being close to the Indian Ocean's hot, humid climate, houses would be roofed with corrugated iron sheets(mabati) to reduce exposure to heat and sun, cooling residents. (Neeraj Chandi, 2018) Most had open balconies, with the exterior walls having rich plaster decor. Although, under Indian influence, many have carved and decorated wooden brackets allowing maintenance of breeze and most importantly privacy, a significant aspect of both Indian and Islamic culture, ideally sustained throughout the entire structure. (Nixon Aswani, 2018, p. xx) They were built in the direction of the sea to invite sea views and winds to increase ventilation and coolness, and provide an external space as courtyards and backyards were not found in Indian shopfront houses.

However, balconies also reduced the scale to make it more human, protecting the street from rain. (Iqbal Singh Deogun, Lucelia Rodrigues & Guillermo Guzman, 2013, p. xx). Due to narrow roads, balconies were close together so shutters were added for privacy. The balconies provide shade to the people underneath, offering space to sit and socialize, an important characteristic of Swahili and Islamic culture. True to Indian style, some feature floral and curveliniear patterns, with motifs holding cultural and religious significance.

To further control temperature, spaced windows facing the Indian Ocean allow ventilation and breeze to easily flow. Windows can be classified into wood casement, where the panels are made from solid wood/glass, sometimes combined with shutter windows (sometimes found alone), and steel casement with glass panels, introduced by the British during their rule. The design of these windows contributes to the air flow in the rooms. The double louver shutters can be used in two ways, as the top shutters can open for better ventilation while the lower one's shade residents from the sun while retaining air flow. (Iqbal Singh Deogun, Lucelia Rodrigues & Guillermo Guzman, 2013, p. xx)

Flat roofing was implemented due to heavy rainfall, as mangroves, drawn from Middle Eastern and Omani architecture, would rot and buckle. The beams have limited strength and are usually exposed on ceilings to make the long and narrow spaces in Swahili houses feel wider and taller. (Gerald Steyn, 2002, p. 157-178)

Some houses, mostly in Lamu, feature intricate plasterwork, which serves to break the monotony of the plain wall and beautify it, as well as display wealth of the owner (Noor, 2021).

Leading up to the doors are barazas. The large porch with two or three steps are purposed to welcome and invite guests and provide a space where homeowners can engage with visitors and socialize. It was the ideal spot as it was on the busy street and shaded by the balconies. The size varies depending on the size of the home. (Neeraj Chandi, 2018)

Ventilation is key in the context of the Kenyan Coast, hence courtyards were used. Cool air descends while hot air rises. The narrow streets harness the Monsoon winds so wind is channeled through them, cooling pedestrians. Similarly, windows and openings faced the prevailing winds. Timber, stone, and Lamu plaster were common materials because of their cooling effect. (Iqbal Singh Deogun, Lucelia Rodrigues & Guillermo Guzman, 2013, p. xx)

Urko Sanchez Architects are a world-renowned architectural firm with offices in Madrid and Kenya. They strive to create unique spaces all over East Africa, adapting their works to its context and clients' needs. They take inspiration from traditional Swahili architecture and spin a modern twist to create aesthetic, functional, and eco-friendly buildings. Sustainability plays a key part in their designs, emphasizing on spaces that utilize the environment. Born in Madrid and now living in Kenya, Sanchez, the founder and director of the firm, has immersed himself in various cultures over the years which has produced a unique, but distinctly Swahili, style. Travel has informed his life and work. He first visited Lamu, Kenya in 1993. He expressed "I instantly fell in love with the serenity of the place and I was sure I would like to visit Lamu again" (Buildesign, 2017, p. xx). In 2003, he started his first project there, and his ability to create spaces tailored to the client while retaining character of the traditional architecture set him apart. Expanding his specialty, he gravitated into Swahili and Modernist architecture. Evidently, the Swahili culture has been a major influence, revealing the unavoidable impact culture has on architects, and how it shapes their choices and designs.

An apartment complex completed in 2014 comprising of 9 living units in central Lamu, the building spans over \(1600 \mathrm{~m}^{2}\) and is an effortless blend of contemporary and Swahili lifestyle and architecture, blending into the flavour of the old town while being eco-friendly. Despite its modern facilities and environmental design, the building retains the old feel of the island. It was created as housing facilities that fit in with the fragmented geometrical scale of Lamu while providing a great view of the town. (Wanjala, 2023)