An Amicable Urban Seam, Kisumu, Kenya
Planning Studio
Introduction
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Kisumu, Kenya's third-largest city, is a vital urban center along Lake Victoria, evolving from its historical roots as Port Florence into a hub that embodies Kenya's Vision 2030. Kisumu has seen a transition from a key railway terminal to a bustling city, blending its rich cultural heritage with the demands of rapid urbanization. The city's landscape, a mosaic of residential, commercial, and industrial areas, presents both challenges and opportunities in its ongoing development.
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The urban development project in Kisumu focuses on the "J3" strategy: Joto (Heat), Jinsia (Gender), and Jumuiya (Community), with a special emphasis on community engagement and mobility corridors. The concept synergizes efforts in climate resilience, public health, and women's empowerment and gender equality as pillars of Kisumu's sustainable growth.
The proposal offers a comprehensive solution for revitalizing the urban landscape at the site in Kisumu. It's designed to address urban cooling and environmental wellness along with the establishment of health and education hubs. Additionally, the design fosters active living and cultural integration, incorporating recreational spaces and cultural venues. This project isn't just about enhancing an urban space; it's about creating a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable new center for the laterally expanding city, given that we saw earlier that majority of the existing large green areas are limited to the colonial part of the city.
Site Plan
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Focused on a key 3 km section of Kisumu's bypass highway, this project boosts urban connectivity and transforms underused areas into parks, fostering a resilient and inclusive cityscape, and addressing challenges like environmental sustainability and social disparities.
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The site stretches along Kisumu's bypass highway with informal settlements on one side and govt owned land and tenement housing on the other side. The site, enriched with numerous institutions, presents a prime opportunity for impactful and sustainable urban development.
The initial step involved identifying underutilized green spaces in the area, particularly those on public land, to develop community-centric green zones within the neighborhood.
The site plan strategically utilizes the available space, integrating functional areas and green zones to create a harmonious and efficient layout. To address heat, the plan introduces sustainable transportation options, alongside climate resilient agriculture, connected by pedestrian pathways to foster a cooler urban environment. The project promotes women's empowerment through dedicated spaces like the incubation center and community sanitation facilities. The proposal also incorporates traffic calming strategies to enhance highway accessibility and introduces the Manyatta Museum, spotlighting the settlement and its cultural significance. The plan aims to create a cohesive, revitalized urban space that promotes sustainability, connectivity, and community engagement.
Section A navigates through Kondele Market and the dormant spaces of Kisumu Training Medical College, detailing the revitalization efforts to harness their potential. Section B illustrates adjustments to the road's right of way, alongside the introduction of community sanitation facilities and new bus stands to improve infrastructure. Section C highlights the development of a new farmers market on vacant plots and the initiation of urban farming on previously underutilized government land.
Inspired by Kigali's car-free day, a similar event was proposed to take place every last Sunday of the month. This initiative transformed a 6km stretch from the stadium to the railway station into a pedestrian-friendly zone, connecting the community to the expanding city and the lake. Such car-free days have been proven beneficial worldwide, reducing traffic congestion, fostering a greener environment, and decreasing gasoline demand.
Conclusion
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In conclusion, the project is poised to not only transform a key area of Kisumu but also set a precedent for future urban development projects. The project's multifaceted approach not only targets specific SDGs but also interlinks various aspects of sustainability, health, equality, and urban development.
