A place of safety, dignity and renewal shaped by landscape and community
Located on the eastern edge of Mbale, the refuge will provide a safe and supportive environment for vulnerable young mothers as they rebuild confidence and independence.
The site occupies a threshold between the city, its surrounding farmland and the Wanale Ridge, where many of the young women come from. This relationship informs an architecture rooted in both landscape and community. Before developing the design, the team spent time walking the site, meeting local partners and understanding how people live and work within this peri-urban setting.
The proposal brings together private accommodation with shared spaces for gathering, learning and mutual support. Shaded courtyards create a sense of enclosure without isolation, while views, planting and existing mature trees connect everyday life to the surrounding landscape.
The environmental strategy responds directly to Mbale’s equatorial climate. Careful orientation, natural cross-ventilation, deep roof overhangs and perforated brickwork help protect the interiors from intense sun and seasonal rain while maintaining comfortable temperatures. Local earth, timber and brick draw on familiar materials, skills and methods of construction.
The refuge is conceived as more than a building. It is a place where care, culture and landscape can support dignity, belonging and lasting change.