Kaloum Bankhi started with the construction of a $6,000 prototype designed by team member Komara in June 2018, funded by the University of California Judith Lee Stronach Baccalaureate Prize. Inspired by the “shotgun” style of house, the project is a series of connected rooms, with reconfigurable features creating flexible space that can be adapted for gathering and sleeping needs. The project used recycled corrugated steel and wood, locally sourced and climate appropriate materials, as a sustainable alternative to the typically favored concrete and cement bricks. These new materials have historically only been used for construction of structures deemed insignificant, but are here integral to the architectural scheme. Vernacular materials and local African prints decorate the interior. Community members constructed the home, interested in learning construction processes.
