playful benches by rebecca khamala envision human-centric public spaces in kampala

local plants and tree logs shape circular and curved benches, and a station for the traditional mweso game.

Khamalabecca edited by thomai tsimpou September 5, 2024 3 min

Rebecca Khamala’s installation reimagines public spaces

Artist and designer Rebecca Khamala explores placemaking in Kampala, Uganda’s public spaces, through her installation Tuula. Zanya. Wumula. | Sit. Play. Rest. Reflecting on the role of public spaces in enhancing the well-being of people and their city, the project reimagines these areas from the perspective of designing urban environments for people rather than buildings and cars. Working closely with artisans in Mpigi District, Khamala used regenerative materials such as enzibaziba reeds, mimwanyi (coffee tree branches), and musambya logs to craft the pieces. These materials, chosen for their sustainability, were transformed into circular and curved benches and a game station for the traditional Ugandan mweso game. The goal of Tuula. Zanya. Wumula. | Sit. Play. Rest. is to invite more people to engage with the area, encouraging a sense of ownership and revitalizing an underutilized public space while providing refuge from the intense heat.

playful benches by rebecca khamala envision human-centric public spaces in kampala - 1 — all images by Franklin Kasumba, courtesy of Rebecca Khamala unless stated otherwise

Tuula. Zanya. Wumula. | Sit. Play. Rest. echoes Ugandan tradition

Created during the Vivid Synergies Residency by Afriart Gallery, Rebecca Khamala’s installation addresses the need for accessible, welcoming spaces in a city where open public areas are rapidly disappearing. Inspired by her cultural and material heritage, the multidisciplinary artist creates furniture installations for seating and play, designed to blend into the landscape while enforcing community interaction. Drawing inspiration from the Ugandan three-legged stool and local benches, the design, with a vibrant orange outline, ensures visibility against the earthy tones of the Railway Gardens along Jinja Road, a space primarily used by truck drivers. By incorporating playful, familiar forms and sustainable materials, Tuula. Zanya. Wumula. demonstrates how public spaces can contribute to both environmental responsibility and social well-being.

playful benches by rebecca khamala envision human-centric public spaces in kampala - 2 — sustainable materials were transformed into circular benches and a game station for the Ugandan mweso game

playful benches by rebecca khamala envision human-centric public spaces in kampala - 3 — artist and designer Rebecca Khamala explores placemaking in Kampala’s public spaces, through her installation

playful benches by rebecca khamala envision human-centric public spaces in kampala - 4 — a reinterpretation of the traditional three legged stool

playful benches by rebecca khamala envision human-centric public spaces in kampala - 5

reflecting on the role of public spaces in enhancing the well-being of people and their city

playful-installation-rebecca-khamala-human-centric-public-spaces-kampala-09-05-2024-designboom-1800-02 — working closely with artisans in Mpigi District, Khamala used regenerative materials

playful benches by rebecca khamala envision human-centric public spaces in kampala - 6 — a detail of the nzibaziba reed on the curved benches

playful benches by rebecca khamala envision human-centric public spaces in kampala - 7 — drawing inspiration from the Ugandan three-legged stool and local benches

playful benches by rebecca khamala envision human-centric public spaces in kampala - 8 — Tuula. Zanya. Wumula. | Sit. Play. Rest. aims to invite more people to engage with the area

playful-installation-rebecca-khamala-human-centric-public-spaces-kampala-09-05-2024-designboom-1800-03 — providing refuge from the intense heat

a man teaching others how to play omweso on the mweso log | image by Brian Musinguzi people playing games while seated on the hybrid three legged stools | image by Brian Musinguzi a setup of the curved benches around a tree the installation as a pocket of retreat at the Railway Gardens, Kampala rhythmic patterns of reeds in the curved bench three men playing at the installed mweso game station

project info:

name: Tuula. Zanya. Wumula. | Sit. Play. Rest.
designer: Rebecca Khamala
location: Kampala, Uganda

photographers: Franklin Kasumba, Brian Musinguzi

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.