Studio KAP Architects · Newbuild Architecture · A house in Luanda: Patio and Pavilion

The creation of a generic domestic structural system which can, by repetition and adaptation, develop stable private and public spaces in an ordered urban morphology. Thick load-bearing walls containing basic services are the basic building blocks for each dwelling while at the same time giving the city a stable and adaptable structure. The key defining walls and simple vaulted roofs satisfy the basic human need for shelter and privacy and provide dignity at an affordable cost. Over time, these can be adapted and developed by each inhabitant with the introduction of screens, partitions, fabrics. The key to the prototype is the flexibility the cross wall structure gives to a variety of different spatial arrangements suitable to the differing needs of the inhabitants. The smallest module is achieveable on a 25x5m plot. With one main wall accommodating all the basic services, different spaces can be defined and improved over time without disruptive plumbing. From this basic prototype, many different house types can be developed.