Nairobi’s urban poor communities have a way of imagining their own futures; what
would happen if we engaged architectural tools to give form to those imaginations or be in conversation with them?

The project envisions a transformative approach to Nairobi’s Dandora dumpsite by engaging with the imaginations and agency of the informal sector to shape more inclusive, resilient urban futures. The project repositions textile waste as a valuable resource, drawing on the city’s informal economies of repair.

At the heart of the proposal is a 'craftivist' centre; a communal infrastructure housing workshops and residencies for artisans. The ground floor supports waste processing and design experimentation, while upper-level residential units rethink vertical living to sustain the sociality embedded in informal settlements.

The initiative aims to redefine slum upgrading by positioning residents as active participants in the making of their neighbourhoods. Small, localised interventions are seen as catalysts for large-scale impact - introducing a model of ecological, infrastructural, and socio-economic repair.