University of Nairobi’s Department of Architecture is collaborating with two academic partners:
Norwegian University of Science and Technology and Kathmandu University (Nepal) as well as
non-academic partners: Kounkuey Design Initiative and UN-Habitat, in the on-going PEARLS
Project (2025-2028). The Project is promoting a New Community of Knowledge and Practice on
Urban Rivers and aims for more inclusive and climate-friendly cities through people-centred and
resilient urban spaces. Furthermore, it promotes new learning practices that are transdisciplinary,
exploratory and informed by case-studies through contextualising solutions to address local needs.
Ultimately, its thematic focus is on the relationship between urban rivers and riverine
communities in times of climate change.

During the academic year 2025-2026 the 5th Year Bachelor of Architecture Studio was guided by
a team of tutors including Dr. Margaret Macharia Kedogo, Dr. Kigara Kamweru, Prof. Jerry
Magutu, Dr. Yusuf Ebrahim and Dr. Linda Nkatha.
The 1st Semester Housing Studio Project’s theme focused on Integrating Housing
Redevelopment with River Regeneration. As such it aimed to investigate housing conditions
and socio-ecological conditions along Nairobi’s riparian, urban corridor.
As part of the introduction to the 5th Year’s Housing Studio Project, they embarked on a field visit
along the Nairobi River corridor on 17th November 2025. The aim of the field visit was to provide
insights for proposing sustainable, inclusive, and ecologically-sensitive urban design
interventions as well as affordable housing particularly for the existing residents as well as
future residents