Children playing on field by playgrounds with apartment buildings behind. Building design by harare based architectural firm
Masterplan of cluster housing development in Harare Zimbabwe by local architectural firm.
Multicoloured four story apartment buildings behind small houses in foreground. Residential design by architect from Harare
Glaudina residential complex in Harare Zimbabwe showing cars and people in front of apartment buildingslaudina residential complex in Harare Zimbabwe showing cars and people in front of apartment buildings
Glaudina cluster complex in Harare Zimbabwe showing cars and people in front of apartment buildingslaudina residential complex in Harare Zimbabwe showing cars and people in front of apartment buildings

Glaudina apartments and cluster housing

Masterplan of cluster housing development in Harare Zimbabwe by local architectural firm.
Children playing on field by playgrounds with apartment buildings behind. Building design by harare based architectural firm
Multicoloured four story apartment buildings behind small houses in foreground. Residential design by architect from Harare
Glaudina residential complex in Harare Zimbabwe showing cars and people in front of apartment buildingslaudina residential complex in Harare Zimbabwe showing cars and people in front of apartment buildings
Glaudina cluster complex in Harare Zimbabwe showing cars and people in front of apartment buildingslaudina residential complex in Harare Zimbabwe showing cars and people in front of apartment buildings
Location: Harare, Zimbabwe
Type: Residential, apartments
Area: 4500m2
Completion: 2015

On the outskirts of Harare, in Glaudina suburb extensive individual houses are being built. Inspired by the demand for new residential units, we were approached to design a new cluster housing development of mixed sizes.


Cluster housing masterplan design

The planning concept behind behind the residential complex was to provide a variety of options to future buyers: from individual cluster homes to apartments in multistorey buildings. Thus the risk would be minimised and a wider offering would be presented to the public.As such our master plan proposed four blocks of eight attached double houses, for a total of 64 attached houses. These would occupy most of the stand with the exception of the northwest corner wherer 4 storey residential buildings would be built. There would be a total of 8 buildings, housing 8 apartments each, so 64 two and three bedroom apartments. The buildings would be spaced around a central garden that would house the childrens' playground and common sports fields.


Attached house designs

The houses would each have a separate entrance, individual gardens, parking spaces and their own private areas. 2 bedroom and 3 bedroom homes were planned that optimised the usable floor space in order to contain building costs.The facades of the houses would be brightly coloured to liven up the architecture of the development without incurring additional costs in these contemporary designs.


Apartment building design

The residential buildings were designed to have an open-air staircase connecting two independent towers, each containing a 3 bedroom apartment per floor. The windows and doors were positioned to guarantee the maximum privacy between the residents while providing views of the common garden. All apartments had a living and dining room next to the kitchen, and 3 bedrooms with 2 bathrooms. The buildings were coloured in bright colours in order to create an interesting facade while minimising expenditures.

The fun cluster housing development was a cost-effective solution to the housing problem present in Harare, and provided an alternative to common residential design projects.

Children playing on field by playgrounds with apartment buildings behind. Building design by harare based architectural firm