STUDENTS of the Kigali Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) together with their counterparts from the University of Venice (IUAV) in Italy, on Thursday, concluded a two month experiment on the use of local materials for construction, at San Marco Research Centre, Kanombe, Kigali.

Prof. John S. Mshana, the Vice Rector Academics at KIST, said that using natural fibres enhances the use of traditional materials and gives them more value.

"The first outcome of this research was the construction of prototype building system with 80% natural materials such as banana leaves, bamboo and coffee wood,” he said.
He added that Rwanda has a lot of local materials such as clay soil, banana fibres, bamboo which are wasted and can be used for construction.

Prof. Mshana stressed that the research also has facilitated the traditional Rwandan technique to produce jewels that show the potentiality of the country’s traditional culture when confronted with the larger dimension of design and technology.

According to IUAV Professor, Julian Kaftanic, the tradition and innovation in vegetable fibre design displays the good results of the programme that was set up in 2008 after being prompted by the Soroptimist International organization.

"Through its first participation in the ‘Biennale di Venezia in Italy’, Rwanda is showing some of the paths that we can follow if we view design as a means to solve, together,.
IUAV student, Matteo Mazezerro, noted that carrying out a survey to develop the use of local materials and exploit traditional work methods is vital towards developing and exploiting technical skills.

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