Sweet Onion Creations is pleased to be partnering with some bright students from Montana State University’s architecture program on designing a library for the youth in Mukuru Kwa Njenga, which is a “slum” area (I hate that term) outside of Nairobi, Kenya. This is a competition through the Open Architecture Network, whose mission is to improve the living standards of the world’s poor through collaborative design.

The design brief outlines the challenge:

• Library with computer lab for students (250)
• Radio recording studio (99.9 Ghetto FM…I hate that name too)
• Computer training center and conference room
• Internet cafe and printing services to support the venture
• Area for payphones
• Daycare center
• Reception and secure storage area

$150,000 (US) has to make this happen.

I am tasked with understanding the cultural component of the site and getting an understanding of making technology accessible and what spaces make sense for that interaction to occur in relation to Nairobi, Kenya.

Looks like I’ll be heading to Bozeman’s Public Library to ask a few questions of the librarians…