Nakawa Masterplan, Kampala, Uganda

The Nakawa site is conceived as a vibrant new community embracing Commercial, Retail, Civic and Residential uses, taking advantage of it’s strategic location close to the centre of Kampala and served by national road and (future) rail transport connections.

The masterplan concept proposes a central parkland space which acts as a ‘Green Lung’ to the diverse elements within the development. Set within this parkland are civic and religious pavilions providing high quality amenity and public realm for residents, office workers and visitors.

The Nakawa Retail & Leisure building is conceived as an iconic structure which would create a signature identity on a national scale within Uganda. The tower is a 3-dimensional evocation of the shield of the Ugandan coat of arms. The curved translucent skin of the Retail & Leisure complex wraps over the main entrance road from the new Jinja Highway interchange and partially envelopes the base of the tower to create a dramatic gateway structure to Nakawa. This totemic structure should become a landmark on the highway from Kampala to Jinja.

The tower incorporates a 5-star hotel and serviced apartments with panoramic views in all directions. The tower forms the focal point of a stepped public plaza adjoining the civic parkland. Pedestrian bridges link this plaza to the retail centre and upper hotel foyer levels.

There is a second access to the retail & leisure complex from the South-West where a new rail station is proposed – this should generate a strong pedestrian desire line linking the various levels within the complex.

Office accommodation is proposed in a linear campus arrangement with a dedicated slip road off the New Port Bell Road providing ample set-down and access to basement car parking. The offices are designed as an atrium configuration to provide maximum flexibility for sub-division for small, medium, corporate or Government tenants. The office campus is ranged along a linear curved public plaza which forms the spine of the masterplan linking the neighbourhood centre to the East with the commercial & retail heart to the West.

The residential neighbourhood is conceived as a series of interconnected courtyards, linked by a linear landscaped pedestrian street stretching from the retail & leisure complex to the west as far as the neighbourhood centre to the East. The courtyard blocks fan out in a radial configuration with tree lined boulevards oriented towards the central parkland space and civic buildings. The site topography will create an additional layer of drama and interest in the composition of residential buildings and public spaces. The stepped profile of the apartment buildings maximises views towards the city and towards the central parkland.

The neighbourhood centre is arranged around a new civic square at the Eastern end of Nakawa where it is proposed to locate a second rail station. This stepped landscaped square should be further animated by the other public buildings on all sides - the education facility, the international referral hospital and the civic centre.

The central parkland is conceived as a lush landscape of native trees with meandering pedestrian links connecting natural desire lines. This space is bounded by a cascading water feature which doubles as a sustainable storm-water retention feature.