Korogwe Research Laboratory

Scientist has for decades struggled to develop a safe vaccine to prevent malaria, a disease killing hundreds of thousands of peoples every year, mostly small children and pregnant women.

The Korogwe Research Laboratory is erected to provide modern facilities for the test of a new malaria vaccine. It is a large vaccine trial programme simultaneously conducted in several countries in Africa funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The laboratory is an extension to a district hospital placed quite isolated and rural in the north-eastern part of Tanzania. It’s close to the equator and the climate is year-round hot and humid tropical.

The building is designed to be functional adaptable, physically robust and environmentally friendly.

The laboratory needs to be fully air-conditioned, but the energy demand is lower than might be expected, as temperatures are kept down by natural ventilation. The roof and ceiling have been separated leaving a large space for natural ventilation creating a general chimney effect.

To provide independent backup water supply all rainwater falling on the roof is collected and directed through a sand filter into a 100m3 subterranean water tank.

All constructions, details and materials have been carefully selected to last a long time even in a future situation with limited maintenance. Except from the high-end lab equipment only local available materials have been used.

All major spaces are reached from colonnades surrounding an inner calm and cool garden space equipped with orange trees. Two completely open corners provide large well-ventilated outdoor conference areas for scientists and other staff.