This website uses cookies as well as similar tools and technologies to understand visitors' experiences. By continuing to use this website, you consent to Columbia University's usage of cookies and similar technologies, in accordance with the Columbia University Website Cookie Notice
Inspired by traditional African basket weaving, the Women’s College in Urban Rwanda uses woven programmatic relationships to create a blended learning environment in which learning, coaching, and gathering spaces are intertwined for a holistic educational experience. The building is nestled into its hillside site, embracing the Rwandan landscape as it flows upward with the topography.
The campus utilizes local materials including clay block and bamboo to celebrate the country’s vernacular architecture and pay heed to local customs. Mild temperatures and overhead sun call for a covered yet open air third floor, constructed with a hand-crafted bamboo truss system and wood shingled roof.