Ross Langdon Health Education Centre

Manya, Uganda

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Ross Langdon Health Education Centre

Manya, Uganda

Firm

Localworks

Type

Government + Health › Community Center

STATUS

Built

YEAR

2016

SIZE

1000 sqft - 3000 sqft

BUDGET

$100K - 500K

Photos

Will Boase (25)

The Ross Langdon Health Education Centre is a small community hall located in the village of Mannya in Rakai, South-western Uganda. It provides space for about 150 people, sitting on simple clay tile steps, and for a speaker, standing on a small elevated platform. Adjacent to the hall is a room for private meetings and a store. At the front is a walkway covered by a pergola providing shade for informal gatherings and relaxation.

The building was designed by Ross Langdon [http://www.rosslangdon.info], a young Australian Architect who, together with his wife and unborn child, was amongst the victims of the Westgate attacks in Nairobi. In his short career spanning across Australia, the UK and East Africa, Ross left behind a multitude of designs, including the award-winning Kyambura Lodge, all imaginatively tailored to location, climate, materials and users, and all driven by an inexhaustible passion for ‘Chameleon
Architecture’ [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w46rfUN52ps].

As good as we can tell in his absence, Ross envisioned the Health Education Centre as a small pavilion, entirely inward-looking and made of the most basic of building materials available in Southern Uganda: eucalyptus poles as the main structure with clay brick infills and clay tile floors. There are no windows, and instead the building envelop filters light in various ways; perforations in the brickwork, a gap between walls and roof, a high-level roof vent with skylight and ‘Liters of Light’ illuminating the stage area. The roof cover is made of zinc-al roof sheets supported by Eucalyptus trusses, and the ceiling is made of purpose-designed handmade ‘Mukeka’ reed mats.

Following Ross’ death, the client, the Cotton On Foundation from Australia [http://www.cottononfoundation.org], approached Uganda-based Studio FH Architects [http://www.studiofh.ug] with the request to complete the design and help implementing it as close as possible to the intentions of the originator. Felix Holland, principal architect at Studio FH and personal friend of Ross, took on the challenge and assembled a team of dedicated designers and builders who went on a detective mission deciphering Ross’ design intentions, guessing at times and disagreeing at others, and finally realising a building that we hope does justice to the ideas and visions of the architect.

Design Architect: Ross Langdon [http://www.rosslangdon.info]
Implementing Architect: Studio FH Architects [http://www.studiofh.ug]
Structural Engineer: MBW Consulting [http://www.mbw.co.ug]
Quantity Surveyor: Dudley Kasibante and Partners [http://www.dudleykasibante.co.ug]
Contractor: CMD Investments
Photographs: Will Boase Photography [http://www.willboase.com]
Location: Mannya, Uganda
Area: 260m²
Project year: 2016

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Ross Langdon Health Education Centre

Manya, Uganda

Other Projects by Localworks

AWF Primary Schools in Karamoja

Nile Safari Lodge

COF Outreach Village Primary Schools

Multipurpose Hall at St. Bernard’s Secondary School

Ross Langdon Health Education Centre

Manya, Uganda

Product Spec Sheet

Collaborating Firms

Team