Timber iQ Dec 2017 - Jan 2018 // Issue:35 | Page 30

PROJECTS
The pergola.
Adding culture to
modern design
In Tudor Creek, Mombasa, Kenya are 14 apartments that are
distinctive in their search for privacy and optimised natural
ventilation and light.
By Gregg Cocking of PRchitecture | All images courtesy Javier Callejas
T
he Tudor Apartments are characterised by a
moucharabieh (a natural ventilation device frequently
used in traditional Arab architecture) structural shell,
which benefits from the experience of outdoor living,
contact with nature and the integration of the surroundings
into each private home.
RIGHT LOCATION
Located on the east coast of Kenya, Mombasa is the second
largest city in the country. A multicultural and strategic
centre known for trading and skilled craftsmen, it is
28 DECEMBER 2017 / JANUARY 2018 //
characterised by a savanna tropical climate and a land
crossed by creeks.
Tudor, the architect’s intervention zone, is situated on
the creek´s waterfront, which is a privileged location north
of Mombasa Island. With lush vegetation all around a
serene neighbourhood, the project naturally fits into
this environment.
Urko Sanchez Architects worked closely with the client
to create a building that has minimal environmental impact,
by adapting to the land’s natural slope and using locally
available materials and know-how.