Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Project Team: Romines Architecture, Design Architect | Structureflex / Konstruct, Structural Engineering and Fabrication | Dagher Engineering, CFD Analysis

This unique roof structure was built as an addition to a landscaped courtyard within an Islamic academic campus in Nairobi, Kenya. We were tasked with designing a retrofit solution to provide shelter from rain and enable use of the space which is adjacent to the campus mosque for large gatherings during inclement weather.

The geometric design was inspired by the form of existing date palm trees prominent within the courtyard. The composition of transparent and translucent ETFE sections within the tensile roof allows sunlight to permeate the courtyard - providing protection from the rain, enabling plants to thrive and maintaining visibility of significant surrounding architectural elements including the campus mosque.

Computational fluid dynamic analysis of solar heat gain, wind analysis studies, structural calculations and acoustic studies all informed the ultimate design through close collaboration between the client and an international multi-disciplinary design team of architects, engineers and fabricators.