Italian representative complex, Nairobi

Compacting volumes to reduce environmental impact and land consumption, without sacrificing the functional organization of the various activities. The existing land has major slopes of 20 %, which condition the placement of buildings and the construction of roads and yards. In order to reduce earthworks and to be able to preserve as much as possible the existing vegetation, the new buildings are hypogeal with green roofs.

The volumes are oriented according to the north-south heliothermal axis with the south and north glazed facades protected from solar radiation with sunshade “visors”, while the east and west facades which are the most exposed are blind.

This architectural typology allows for maximum optimization of passive energy inputs; the buildings take advantage of the constant thermal gradient of the ground and have a high thermal inertia of the volumes, the two aspects favoring natural air conditioning with free cooling.