British Council Kenya

The new British Council building, providing educational and cultural opportunities in Nairobi, is built on a hillside outside the city. Avoiding compound style architecture, this welcoming and inclusive building addresses important issues of security through a series of shallow pools that step down the hill. Beyond these pools, the building remains clearly visible from the street.

Shaded by a planted wall, its form mirrors the horizontal planes of the pools with deep overhanging eaves that also defend against solar glare and monsoon rains. The majority of this passively ventilated building was built with locally sourced materials; Nairobi Blue stone and a series of cream renders, with local timber adding warmth to the interiors.

The building is enhanced by pigments and textures chosen in collaboration with British artist David Tremlett, with vibrant blues and reds reflecting the colours of the Kenyan earth and sky.