Designer: Ramson Sanford.
Location: outskirts of Dar es salaam, Tanzania.

The building was designed for the weekend uses only. The client wanted a house which will look stunning but very simple; He wanted a single bedroom with lounge, kitchen and dining. The house then designed to meet the client’s requirements in terms of form, functions and financially.


The house has three rectangular blocks of equal size which are arranged in staggered way. The blocks contain different functions. The first block has lounge, the second one has kitchen and dining while the third one has bedroom and toilet. The blocks were elevated from the ground by different levels which increase the area for greenish. The first one is elevated by 450mm from the ground, the second one by 600mm and the third one by 750mm.


The house has flat roof which makes the space to be sandwiched between floor slab and roof. The floor slab is held by 8 concrete columns which are in the corners of the blocks. The house has two porches, the first is in the front and the porch lead to lounge, the second is in the middle block which comes from the kitchen. This also is used as an alternative route within the building.


The building doesn’t have windows but it has curtain walls which run from the roof to the floor slab. The curtain walls are in the front façade only, this bring maximum light to the interiors and the use of artificial light very minimal.


The toilet was placed at the very beginning of the third block which has a bedroom; the toilet can be used by visitors also. The drainage is arranged well since wet areas are very close., the kitchen and toilet are in the second and third block.


The landscape was arranged well with a swimming pool at the front of the house. The view from the bedroom lead direct to the swimming pool and greenish area. The drive way from the main entrance leads to the parking , main entrance to the house and to the rear porch. The rear porch is used for deliveries to the kitchen. The house is surrounded tall trees which brings shadow to the compound.