Masterplan for a sustainable city: the Complete Communites of Kinyinya Hill

Green City Kigali

Royal institute of British Architects (RIBA) International Design Competition: finalist

Our masterplan for a new sustainable city at Kinyinya Hill, Rwanda, expresses a new model of urbanism by building vibrant, inclusive and context-sensitive communities. ‘Complete communities’ means that the city is self-sufficient, provides integrated services to its residents, and is environmentally sustainable.

At full capacity, the new city will provide affordable housing and services for an economically diverse society. Kinyinya Hill aims to be a dynamic and vibrant place, bustling with social and economic activity and well connected to Kigali and beyond. All in all, the masterplan is based on four concepts: affordability and social equity, climate resilience, resource efficiency and cultural relevance.

The main reason for this project is the current volatility of climatic, economic and social conditions. This requires a fundamental rethink of how we design our environments and manage our resources. Inspired by Rwandans’ commitment to innovation and smart growth, the masterplan for the new city harnesses technology and connectivity to accelerate development goals, deliver public services and expand economic opportunities in sectors such as agroforestry, construction and the green economy.

Environmental sustainability

We used holistic strategies to ensure the current and long-term environmental sustainability of the new town. Firstly, the topography of Kinyinya Hill, which drops almost 100 metres from hilltop to wetland, is a primary influence. The masterplan transitions from urban to open green spaces. The urban density of housing, services, mobility and commercial activities is largely located at the top of the hill and gradually descends towards parks, farms and terraces that allow for local food production.

To ensure green mobility, each neighbourhood is designed as a self-contained unit that can be walked to within 10 minutes. Carefully designed infrastructure and innovation support the use of public transport, cycling and walking to reduce reliance on cars while ensuring efficient connectivity.

Buildings are designed to achieve net-zero carbon requirements. We used passive strategies for ventilation, shading and thermal comfort, solar panels and hot water systems for electricity and hot water, and energy efficiency strategies to minimise energy demand and emissions. The masterplan for this sustainable city also includes an integrated water management system that utilises the site’s natural resources, and an efficient waste management and recycling system. Local and sustainable building materials are used wherever possible to minimise emissions and boost the local economy, such as fired clay bricks, natural stone and compressed straw panels.