National Lake Rescue Institute, Uganda, East Africa - maritime safety, search and rescue, environmental protection Lake Victoria

Lake Rescue handed over a blank sheet of paper to a brilliant young Ugandan architect and, with the "briefest of briefs" told him to get on with it! His concept, which we fully expect to provoke more than a little reaction, is bold, original and clearly unique whilst still remaining true to the cause, fully workable and appropriate to the local environment. Such is the beauty of a green field site

Above - Sekawungu Peter Mwesigwa

Left - The Project concept

Peter on the rescue boat

Peter presents to visiting IMO delegates

Name: Sekawungu Peter Mwesigwa
A final year B.Arch student at the Department of Architecture, Makerere University, Kampala

Project Concept:
Maritime Search and Rescue is about saving and preserving life. This is only possible if one is able to remain afloat. An analogy of a floating object is used as the design concept in this project. This concept focuses on three parts of this drama, the object above the surface, the water level and the object below the water surface.

The ‘roof’ throughout this project is designed as an analogy to the water surface. It is made to ‘flow’ and is made free standing and independent of the structure.

The ‘Structure’ on the other hand is the floating object in this drama with elements … ‘heads’, sticking out above the ‘water surface’ and also breaking free from the coverage of the roof in plan too.

“to float, …. to emerge out of, ……. to break free from, ………….. to survive”

Conceptual Layout:
The Layout of the structures on site is designed taking the Emergency Medical Centre as the central piece in the layout. This unit symbolizes life ….it is a place for the restoration of life.

As in a ‘Search and Rescue’ process, the point of tragedy is identified and the search is carried out in concentric circles about the point with more importance and vigor to the area closest to the focus and less as the distance increases.

On the site layout, the structures are laid out in such manner highlighting the importance of the unit. In the center is the Medical centre with the next concentric circle marking the Rescue Station which houses the equipment necessary for the pickup. Placed next is the Training School that provides the manpower and skill for the operation, followed by the Administration Block and lastly the Accommodation Units which are located at the remotest location relative to the Medical Centre.

View initial drawings here