| dc.description.abstract | My intense love and concern for cultural activities has influenced the choice for
thesis's topic. Following is a summary of the contents of this report which explains
all the developments the design thesis has gone through from its inception to its
final result the drawn thesis which is only partially included here.
INTRODUCTION: My Conception of culture, the way it influences people and their ways
of life, its propagation and how today it has been contaminated by universal culture
and my thoughts on what the government should do to inculcate on the local Kenyans
the importance of traditional culture.
CHAPTER I DESIGN PARAMETERS - The identification of the predominant design parameters,
their priorities and relationships. I have considered the various important features
of the cultural centre which would make it useful to the people with the aim~ of
making it one of their daily activities. The important of these I have identified
as accessability to the centre by its users,
CHAPTER II - SITE IDENTIFICATION G SELECTION. I have given the main factors which
have influenced the choice of Kamukunji as the most suitable site for this cultural
centre. Other sites which I had considered have been indicated - these being Uhuru
Park and the current site for the Kenya Cultural Centre next to the University of
Nairobi. I have weighed the advantages and disadvantages of each of these and
assessed them against one another.
I have then analysed the selected site - Kamukunji - which I further propose to
develop into a part and integrate the cultural centre buildings into the park fabric.
CHAPTER III - DESIGN CONCEPT AND DEVEUFMENT: Having identified my predominant
design parameters and the suitable site I have then interpreted these parameters
into a design concept (or concepts) in the context of the site selected (the park).
I have shown how these important design parameters have influenced the building form,
and how throughout the design process my whole being has been involved in an intricate
mental gymwastics trying to get a form which satisfies the functional requirements of
the centre and at the same time a form which is completely intergrated within the park
and not appearing as an intrusion. I have included sketches of the various forms I have
conceived and shown why each has been rejected. The form I have developed is integrated into
the park by continuing the external finish (rocks) into the park for landscaping. | en |
