What if architecture could teach, heal, and empower, all at the same time?

Architecture’s value lies in its ability to produce social change; to shape social and political realities through intentional intervention. This project illustrates how architecture can move toward that broader functionalism, one that actively influences everyday life and generates positive social outcomes, improving livelihoods and opening pathways toward more equitable futures.

The project is a poultry and rabbit farming hub delivered for LM International by INUWA Builders as part of the Feed for Change programme. Designed to respond to the urgent realities faced by women caring for children affected by acute malnutrition in Bakavu, the initiative focuses on building skills in sustainable agriculture and small-scale livestock farming. Rather than addressing food security solely as a nutritional concern, the programme positions it as a foundation for empowerment, and strengthened community resilience.

The hub, located in Bukavu, in the South Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is conceived as both a learning space and a generative infrastructure. It is situated within the 400-square-metre forested grounds of Panzi Hospital, a specialised medical centre dedicated to the treatment and rehabilitation of women survivors of sexual violence in conflict settings. Founded by Dr. Denis Mukwege, the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, the hospital provides a deeply significant social and ethical context for the project. 

Nestled beneath a dense forest canopy, the building is carefully integrated into its landscape. The design comprises two interconnected structures – one for chicken and the other for rabbits – around a central courtyard that serves as a shared space for meetings, training sessions, and daily interaction. The building is elevated on isolated columns to reduce its footprint on the site. This approach preserves existing tree roots, allows natural water drainage, minimises soil disturbance, and contributes to a more economical construction process.

The structures are wrapped in panel boards installed on timber framing to ensure structural stability while curbing panel deflection. Openings are deliberately limited to create secure, predator-proof enclosures, while sufficient ventilation is maintained to support healthy interior conditions. A corrugated metal roof incorporates skylights to introduce natural daylight and is designed to be accessible for the regular cleaning of skylights and gutters, an essential consideration in the densely wooded setting. Extending beyond the enclosed volumes are stepped seating that becomes an integral part of the building envelope, serving as a gathering and learning space. The hub also features play spaces for children: to keep them engaged as their mothers work and also designed to strengthen their physiques with the consideration that most are under treatment for acute malnutrition. 

Built using simple, locally manageable materials, the project prioritises ease of maintenance, repair, and long-term adaptability. The construction process itself became a living classroom, where women beneficiaries from Panzi Hospital and LM International’s programme were organised into teams specialising in masonry, carpentry, and metalwork, gaining hands-on experience throughout the building process.

This participatory approach not only provided technical skills and income but also cultivated confidence, autonomy, and collective solidarity, essential tools for breaking the cycle of poverty and reclaiming agency over their individual lives and communities. The project stands as a testament to what architecture can and should achieve in regions scarred by armed conflict: restoring dignity, rebuilding livelihoods, and transforming vulnerability into resilience through thoughtful design and collective making.

This project is presented by Inuwa Builders, a construction and architecture company located in Goma, DRC. Photo Credit: Chadrack Baheni Syauswa, Aubin Mukoni.