From Hong Kong to Nairobi: Transforming a library in Kenya

The newly opened Amani Kibera Book House in Kibera, Nairobi's largest informal settlement, was transformed from an existing library by Condition Lab, an architectural research team affiliated with the School of Architecture of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, in collaboration with local partners.

Ling Pak-wai, a CUHK PhD student who worked on the project, spent nearly a year in Kibera coordinating the design and working with residents. Books remain at the heart of the project. About 40 percent of the collection comes from China, including books on Chinese history and geography. The book house also provides space for local women to sew and make products for sale, helping make the project sustainable through local management.

"'Amani' means 'peace' in Swahili," said Ben Ooko, founder of Amani Kibera, a community-based organization that has operated the library and will continue to manage the new facility.

"Books are powerful tools," Ooko said, adding that the book house can give children in Kibera a window to the world beyond their community.