Mombasa-Torino Architecture and Heritage Partnership

In 2023, the Polytechnic of Turin successfully established its first Erasmus agreements with Kenyan universities, namely the Technical University of Mombasa (TUM) and Maseno University (on lake Victoria). As part of this agreement, Professor Kalandar Khan of TUM will be visiting Polito during the university's international days. Kalandar is one of the pioneering architects who worked on preserving the built landscape in Kenya, particularly along the Swahili coast. Thanks to his work, the historic centres of Mombasa and Lamu are now recognized as architectural heritage by the Kenyan government and UNESCO. He works on architectural heritage conservation and pedagogy, being one of the founders of TUM's architecture school.During his stay in Turin, Kalandar will be a guest of the DAD and DIST departments (June 3-4) to discuss potential collaborations - both in research and teaching. Within the partnership, for example, there are funds for Polito’s doctoral students to spend a semester in Mombasa, or for related staff mobility trips. In light of this, we are organizing a brief workshop to discuss and promote further partnerships between Torino and Mombasa's architecture and planning schools. This open workshop, Kalandar will offer an overview of his work, followed by a brainstorming session for potential collaborations.

• For those who are interested, Kalandar will also hold a Seminar - Mombasa Old Town: History, Architecture and Conservation - at the Scuola di Specializzazione in “Beni Architettonici e del Paesaggio” on June 4, 11.00 am-1.00pm, in the seminar room of the school.