Architecture as a by-product of Form, Space and Order: Oda House is a house half inside and half out, designed to be spatially dynamic and in a constant state of transparency, a somewhat visual flux. It is always looking out, perhaps in an attempt to embrace the environment into which it has been carved out of. A strong sense of connection to the environment and the end user creates an important antagonist within the scheme The clients, an up and up couple with a young child, wanted a space to retreat, from the modern urbanizing environment that is Nairobi without leaving the city behind. They are in a constant state of transition and therefore a connection between their urban environment and the “rural” was necessary, in an attempt to ground their child and subsequent ones in culture. Societal Integration The house therefore seeks to explore the complexities of the urban environment and the serenity and frugality that the country provided. Specifically designed to engage the environment and amidst exposure for views still maintain thermal serenity, the residence soars within the site, intentionally seeks to blend and stand out in separate points of merit. The facades are champions of light and frames for views, none pretentious in as much as functionally viable, a conscious idea of framing and self-regard. Sustainable Passive Strategies vs. Modernity: The house is ideally two separate masses on one level, carefully resting on the stepping site. There is a linear mass oriented north south where the main intimate family spaces are and an East West form clad in corten-steel that houses the smaller home office and master bath. All these forms are shaded by an extensive roof slab that is thermally insulated. This offers a high volume to allow for both cross ventilation across every single room in the house through expansive vision zones and clerestory windows that ring the central mass, extensively shading the building from the morning and afternoon sun, simultaneously allowing for adequate light in the heavily forested area. Deep-rooted Working Concepts, New Environments: The central section is the most transparent section of the house, a “miesian” approach to linear articulation of space, allowing the house to half and half, an external internal union. The corridor here acts as a “double blanket”,keeping the rooms warm and cool with the corridor acting as a vacuum for high thermal mass and shade in the daytime whilst retaining the heat in the night. With each room inherently separate spatially but connected functionally by the external terrace, the house here seeks to unilaterally link every space but retain their individuality. The spaces are repeated rhythms, a conscious effort against arbitrariness and casual space planning, it is linear and ordered but with breaks in formality that then allows for the users to explore the spaces how they see fit. Ultimately, the Oda House explores the romance of visual connection and tradition of spatial inclusivity within the context of client-environment influences.