Miastopracownia researchers (Dominika Janicka, Dominika Wilczyńska, Barbara Nawrocka) visited the office of Cave_Bureau, a Nairobi-based architecture studio founded by Kabage Karanja and Stella Mutegi. Their work intertwines design, research, and academia, using architecture as a tool to explore geological and historical narratives, particularly through the study of caves.
For Cave_Bureau, caves are more than natural formations. They represent a primal form of architecture: sites of indigenous rituals, colonial resistance, and spaces with profound cultural and environmental significance. Using 3D scanning alongside other methods, they document and analyse these spaces, laying the foundation for an architectural practice that challenges colonial legacies while promoting sustainable futures. Their work engages deeply with materiality, merging traditional spatial knowledge with contemporary digital techniques to create innovative and context-driven design solutions.What began as a visit to their office evolved into an unforgettable journey to Mount Suswa, where they explored the caves under study. They also had the opportunity to interview the Cave_Bureau team for Autoportret, a Polish magazine, gaining deeper insight into their unique architectural approach.