The pioneering Kigali Green City project in the Rwandan capital has reached a major milestone in its development.
The City of Kigali has formally adopted the Green City Kigali Concept Masterplan for Kinyinya Hill, following an extensive ‘review and endorsement’ process.
The move marks a pivotal step forward for the groundbreaking initiative that will drive Kigali’s sustainable, affordable, green, and inclusive urban growth. It is part of a citywide zoning masterplan.
The release of the masterplan has been welcomed by leading African planning, design, architecture and engineering firm FBW Group, part of the international team tasked with delivering the project.
Green City Kigali will cover the full 600 hectares of Kinyinya Hill, a suburb of Kigali and will deliver up to 30,000 housing units.
The masterplan features a ‘’forest eco-park’ at its centre. The new urban park will be created on the former radio transmission site of German broadcaster Deutsche Welle. It is already home to an abundance of native vegetation and wildlife.
The ambitious plan also includes a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) transport system.
A pilot phase of the project, set to launch over the next few years, will see the construction of around 2,000 homes on a 16ha site.
Acclaimed UK headquartered architectural firm Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios (FCBS) won an international design competition to create the Green City. It was appointed urban and architectural design consultant on the project and brought together an international team of specialists.
Its designs won best future project in the masterplan category at the World Architecture Forum in Singapore last year.
As well as FBW Group, FCBS’s team includes regional architects Light Earth Designs, A Studio Space and Studio FH Architects and Turner & Townsend. Grant Associates, AKT II and Atelier Ten.
FBW, which has offices in Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya, was appointed as the local team on the ground to deliver the key services of architecture, structural and civil engineering and mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering (MEP).
It has been working with the other team members on the development of the pilot scheme, which will feature examples of how the masterplan’s principles can be applied to create a mixed-use affordable community.
The work has looked at developing sustainable infrastructure, public buildings and housing solutions. FBW will also be involved in the preparations for the construction phase of the initial scheme, which could be completed by 2030.
Its roles will include overseeing local compliance, suggestions on local material supply, environmental standards and stakeholder engagement and submissions.
Antje Eckoldt, FBW Group director, said: “The release of the masterplan, following an extensive review process and input from local communities, is a major step forward for what promises to be a transformational development, not just for Rwanda but for Africa and the rest of the world.
“The pilot project we are currently involved in will lay the ground for the design of quality, low-carbon and resource efficient housing types suitable for various sites and density conditions and point the way towards the future for sustainable urban development.
“One of the aims of Green City is to combine appropriate technologies, progressive thinking and the use of local skills and materials to show that this urban environment has everything it needs to sustain its community and for people to live green.”
She added: “As part of our initial work we have been exploring local low-carbon construction methods and materials and how they can be used to their maximum effect.
“We have also looked at ideas relating to urban farming and a green economy that will create jobs for existing and new residents on Kinyinya Hill, all based on low tech processes, on waste reduction and on circular economy principles.
“In the masterplan up to 55 per cent of the area is made up of publicly accessible spaces, with 19 per cent of the overall site earmarked as landscaped areas for natural habitats.”
It also includes essential infrastructure, including roads, business centres, schools, hospitals, and other vital facilities.
Developments will be required to comply with the construction regulations of the masterplan to achieve a sustainable and climate-resilient city. The EDGE green building standard and international certification system will also play an important role.
The project aims to increase silks and job opportunities and will mainly use locally sourced and produced materials.
Samuel Dusengiyumva, Mayor of the City of Kigali, said: “The Green City Kigali Master Plan has been approved, marking a significant milestone on our journey to advance sustainable and inclusive urban living in our city.
“Residents can now access it, learn about the implications on their plots, and apply for construction permits.”
Basil Karimba, Chief Executive of the Green City Kigali Company, said the masterplan’s implementation would rely on continued collaboration with various stakeholders. He added: “This includes efforts from key government institutions, development partners, professional bodies, the private sector, civil society, land owners, and the community.
“We are confident that our partnership with these diverse groups will drive the success of this important initiative.”
The project is being delivered through the Rwanda Green Fund, a ground-breaking environment and climate change investment fund and the engine of green growth in Rwanda.
FBW, which has recruited some of the top talents in architecture, design and engineering in East Africa, offers a wide range of in-house professional building and technical services and has been involved in a series of major projects in Rwanda.
These include delivering a masterplan for the expansion of the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE)and working with the International School of Kigali (ISK) to create a 21st Century ‘green’ campus in the Rwandan capital. Both projects have sustainability at their heart.
FBW Group’s services include pre-design services, development consultancy, building appraisals and condition surveys, project management, architecture, civil and structural engineering, MEP engineering, telecommunication engineering, and other building consultancy services.
For more information on FBW Group and its work please visit www.fbwgroup.com