Watamu, Kenya

Having been approached to find a new way of responding to beachfront coastal sites in Watamu, Kenya, we started by carrying out extensive research into potential sales markets, social equality in construction and ownership before proposing a new model of development that targeted the increasing numbers of middle-class Kenyans looking for second homes nearer the sea. Built from stone quarried on-site, local timber and thatch roofing, and using standardised construction techniques but incorporating international standards of design, biodiversity and water usage reduction/treatment of foul water.