UK architect Void Studios has won a competition to design a Conservation Centre for Kenya’s Maasai Mara nature reserve.
The centre will be located next to the Oloololo Gate, one of six entrances to Maasai Mara. This is in the northeast of the reserve, near the Mara River and a short distance from a rift valley known as the Oloololo escarpment.
The project, which is being developed by the philanthropic arm of travel company Abercrombie & Kent, was conceived in collaboration with local partners Lawrence Mbugua and Johnpaul Muwanika.
The design mixes traditional Maasai design with contemporary architecture, and includes solar panels and a rainwater harvesting system.
At least two-thirds of the project’s budget will go towards the local economy through the use of local resources, materials and skilled labour.
Ian Sanders, Void Studios’ director, said: “Our proposed Masai Mara Conservation Hub and Visitor Centre embodies a holistic approach to ecological and cultural preservation.
“Local materials are weaved together with unique Masai cultural features to create an engaging visitor experience while reinforcing the connection between conservation efforts and cultural heritage. “
