Rehema Kabare
PhD Researcher, University of Cape Town
Programs Associate, Global Buildings Performance Network
Classical Violinist
Construction Materials as Agents of Social and Cultural Experiences
A Thought from Venice to Nairobi
Exploring construction materials as agents of social equity, cultural memory, and climate resilience through a dialogue between Venice and Nairobi.
Explore the project
This digital archive brings together the key outputs of Construction Materials as Agents of Social and Cultural Experiences: A Thought from Venice to Nairobi, developed through the British Council Venice Fellowship 2025.
From the exhibition and curatorial statement to public dialogue and presentations, each resource offers a different perspective on how construction materials shape climate resilience, cultural memory, and social justice. Explore the collection below to discover the ideas, conversations, and reflections that informed this body of work.
Explore the complete exhibition, tracing the journey from Venice to Nairobi through photography, mapping, and critical reflection. The exhibition examines how construction materials shape climate resilience, cultural memory, and lived urban experience.
Read the full curatorial statement that frames the exhibition, outlining the conceptual foundations of the project and positioning curiosity as a method for reimagining the relationship between materiality, justice, and the built environment.
Watch the recorded Conversation + Exhibition held in Nairobi, where researchers, practitioners, and members of the public engaged with the project and reflected on the social and climatic implications of the materials beneath our feet.
Explore the presentation delivered at Into Protopia, introducing the idea of the Venetian Compass and reflecting on curiosity as a research methodology that bridges architecture, culture, and lived experience.