Masai Mara Conservation Centre

The Masai Mara Conservation Centre (MMCC) was developed as a proposal for a competition to design a cultural and educational building at the Oloololo Gate of the Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. Our approach was to design a centre that would operate entirely off-grid, informed by local environmental conditions, cultural context, low cost and the need for operational independence.

An iterative design process led to the final architectural proposal that strikes an optimal balance between architectural form and environmental performance, applying simple, fundamental and practical principles of environmental design.

The proposed design sought to minimise operational and environmental impact through the integration of passive design strategies. These included thermal mass, solar shading and natural ventilation, eliminating the need for air-conditioning altogether. Inspired by the traditional layout of Masai “Manyatta” villages, most spaces are conceived as open to the exterior during operational hours, arranged around a central courtyard, offering shade and a quiet space for contemplation.

The result is a simple, low-tech, low-impact intervention rooted in its African context, both physically and culturally, redefining how contemporary design can coexist within a protected natural environment.

“Collaborating with such a forward-thinking environmental team has been a pleasure and Klaus Bode’s expertise in sustainable design truly elevated our project.”

Davide Costa

Founding Director
DCS+Architects