Goethe Institute recently hosted ‘Dreams of Nairobi’, an exhibition that ran from the 19th of January to the 15th of February, featuring architectural and design initiatives displaying six achievable projects that offered ‘the best responses to the specific urban design issues of Nairobi City’. With rapid urbanization and a population of more than 3 million people, local think tank African Urban Futures saw a need for designers to come up with creative urban design solutions that addressed the specific issues facing Nairobi.

“One of the main aims of the exhibition was simply to start a conversation about urban design in Nairobi. Every city in the world is growing but the conversations need to be informed by key questions - do we want to grow like this, or like that? How do we imagine our city? Could things be done a better way?” Says African Urban Futures CEO Dan Aceda. African Urban Futures is focused primarily on the research and development of achievable and scalable architecture and urban design projects that are informed by the idea of sustainable design and Green architecture. Designs were required to align themselves to plans considered by Vision 2030 while offering a direct response to economic needs.

Submissions that displayed sensitivity to the principles of Green design and sustainability were considered highly. Displays included a popular Nairobi Dam redesigned with broad community and spaces, and modernized Courthouses that incorporated lush outside areas and interiors conducive to communication and interaction. Aceda says “the next stage of the project is plugging in with political processes, and setting up relationships with research organisations in order to support the long lobbying and advocacy process to take these designs further. With administration of the city moving to County Governance under new provisions of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 it’s the time for fresh ideas and new groups to take up the call for innovative change.

African Urban Futures are excited that those conversations are happening daily, with different Government and campaign groups completely open to new ideas and ways to engage with the community under the new political landscape.” It feels like a good time to start the conversation. The exhibition will continue online at www.dreamsofnairobi.org. Dreams of Nairobi is part of the UN-Habitat promoted ‘I’m a City Changer’ campaign, a global movement with the aim of sensitizing and creating awareness on urban issues to achieve better cities.