October is the month dedicated by UN-Habitat to centering and amplifying the challenges and opportunities created by the fast rate of change in our cities and towns. Dubbed Urban October, everyone interested in sustainable urbanization is encouraged to participate. This year’s themes centered on inclusivity: ‘Mind the Gap’ and ‘Act Local, Go Global’.  

The GoDown was present and active in this year’s Urban October celebrations. As an emerging anchor institution in Nairobi City County, the GoDown is passionate about the place of culture in sustainable urban development. These activities highlighted the value of culture in Nairobi’s urban fabric from different perspectives. 

Here’s a roundup of our contribution to Urban October. 

KUAT’s Landscape Architecture class—Social, Cultural and Psychological Factors in Design

The GoDown was invited by Brenda Kamande, a lecturer at JKUAT’s Landscape Architecture Department where the GoDown Transformation Project was presented as a case study on sustainable urban practice. The aim was to create a link between academia and sustainable practice through an exhibition, panel discussion and workshop. The GoDown Transformation Project’s partners were also present to discuss their roles. Students were engaged and asked critical questions on wood and its value chain in East Africa, gender and inclusivity, client management and government policies.   

Studio Open Day at The GoDown 

The GoDown hosted a Studio Open Day, inviting the public to its new location in Kilimani. This was a great opportunity for people to visit the GoDown’s temporary home while interacting with resident and guest visual artists. Residents and arts enthusiasts made the event a success. There were plenty of activities for all ages, including a painting booth for children to explore their creative expression. The showcase of the GoDown Transformation Project including the HerCity#HerStreet Initiative provided an opportunity for the public to interact with the design of the new GoDown. 

Placemaking Week 

Every year during the last week of October, a community of Kenyan urban enthusiasts come together to carry out different activities around Nairobi city with the aim of demonstrating the value of designing public spaces to strengthen the connections between people and these places. This year’s theme was ‘Nairobi Streets of the Future’. The GoDown, as a member of the Nairobi Placemaking Network, engaged and participated in several activities:  

• Hosted an Urban Dialogue that discussed ‘Working Together to Achieve Successful Co-implementation of Urban Initiatives Between Stakeholders and Nairobi County’. The panelists included Patrick Njoroge of Akiba Mashinani Trust and Dr. Kefa Omanga, Director of Donor Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement at the Nairobi City County Government.

• Hosted the Excavation / Elevation exhibition and discussion, an initiative by James Muriuki, a Nairobi-based arts practitioner and Constance Smith, a social and visual anthropologist from Manchester University, UK. It was a practice-led collaboration into cultures of construction where film, photography and sculptural installations were juxtaposed to ask how far stone and earth can be bent to human desires before they begin to resist.  

• Analyzed the newly developed Aga Khan Walk in Nairobi CBD with members of the Primary Stakeholder Group of the HerCity#HerStreets using the HerCity toolkit and the KOBO Toolbox. The aim of this activity was to examine the functionality of a newly improved public space that is similar to the designs the group ideated along Dunga and Dundori Roads in Industrial Area.  

• Participated in the Placemaking Week Nairobi street parade, the last event of the week.  

The GoDown URBAN team also joined other partners in their Urban October activities: Drum Circle by TICAH DreamKona and International Day of the Girl Child Community of Practice event by UN-Habitat.