David Mutiso
| David Mutiso | |
|---|---|
| Born | Machakos County |
| 🏳️ Nationality | Kenyan |
| 🏳️ Citizenship | Kenya |
| 🏫 Education | Makerere University (Bachelor of Science in Biology, Chemistry, Physics) University of Sheffield (Bachelor of Architecture) |
| 💼 Occupation | |
David Mutiso was the first indigenous Kenyan architect who is widely known for designing the Kenyatta International Convention Centre building.[1][2] He was also the first African Chief Architect in the Ministry of Public Works and the first African Member of the Architectural Association of Kenya.[3]
Background and education
He was born on July 10, 1932, in Machakos County and attended several schools in Mwala and Manyatta before attending Alliance High School between 1949 and 1952.[3] He then joined Makerere University for a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics in 1953. Mutiso, however, harbored a desire to be an architect and upon his return to Nairobi he applied with the City Council of Nairobi to be a learned draftsman and enrolled for evening classes at a technical college.[3]
It was while working at City Council of Nairobi that he applied for a bursary made available for Makerere alumni. He was awarded a full scholarship to join the University of Sheffield in 1954 and he graduated in 1959.[4]
Work experience
His first apprenticeship was served under J. L. Womersley, who held the esteemed position of City Architect of the Sheffield Corporation from 1959 to 1960.[5] Following this, he embarked on a journey of professional development that took him to Italy, where he studied under the mentorship of Professor Ludovico Quaroni, and later to Kenya, where he continued to hone his architectural skills under the tutelage of Richard Hughes in 1961-1962[3]
In 1964, he assumed a position in the Planning Department. Within a year, he ascended to the role of Superintendent Architect, marking him as second in command after the Chief Architect in the Ministry of Public Works.[5]
Notable Works
He is most famous for his collaboration with architect Karl Henrik Nøstvik in the design of the Kenyatta International Convention Centre.[6] KICC was initially planned to house the then ruling party and Tom Mboya had tasked Mutiso with designing an office block.[2] Kenya's first president Jomo Kenyatta however desired a building to represent Kenya and act as a landmark for Nairobi and this led to a joint collaboration with Norwegian architect Karl Henrik Nøstvik, part of a group of experts sent by Oslo to assist newly independent Kenya.[2] The building was commissioned by President Jomo Kenyatta in 1967 and it remains a top-ranked venue for international conferences on the continent.[7]
In 1975, Mutiso undertook a significant architectural endeavor—the United Nations Accommodation project. Situated on a sprawling 40-hectare expanse of undulating terrain in Gigiri, this complex served as the headquarters for the UN Centre for Human Settlements, along with housing the regional offices of UNESCO and UNICEF.[5]
Another notable assignment was the design of the Kenya Technical Teachers College in Gigiri, completed in 1978.[5] Here, his design showcased a higher level of architectural clarity through the strategic use of contrasting planes of color. Vertical white walls were employed to accentuate and delineate volumes, while horizontal monopitch roofs, adorned with dark red concrete tiles, defined various spatial levels within the structure.
Beyond individual structures, Mutiso was also involved in the master planning and design of Buruburu, a comprehensive residential development comprising five phases.[1] This ambitious project aimed to provide 5,000 houses, intended for mortgage acquisition by Kenya's "middle-income" populace.[8]
Legacy
In honor of his legacy to the profession and recognition of the importance of the bursary he enjoyed, a Bursary Fund in his name was set up by the Architectural Association of Kenya.[9] It is an initiative aimed at empowering and motivating students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds who are pursuing educational programs in the built environment field. Its primary mission is to provide financial support that eases the burden on their families and enables them to realize their academic aspirations.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Meet David Mutiso - The Architect Who Designed KICC". June 4, 2013.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Muiruri, Peter. "Then and now: Kenya's architecture 50 years later". The Standard.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Tairo, Arch Martin (January 7, 2013). "David Mutiso".
- ↑ "David Mutiso: The First Indigenous Kenyan Architect Who Designed The Iconic KICC Building". November 5, 2022.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "David Mutiso - Architecture Kenya". kenarch.weebly.com.
- ↑ Herz, Manuel (May 2, 2017). "African Modernism: Nation Building".
- ↑ "Top 10 Convention Centers In Africa". How Africa News. October 19, 2015.
- ↑ Makachia, Peter A. (2010). Transformation of housing in Nairobi Dweller Initiated Transformations in Formal Housing in Nairobi Estates with Case Studies of Kaloleni and Buru-Buru Estates (Thesis thesis).
- ↑ "David Mutiso Bursary Fund".
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