Mbare Veggie Stand

2022

Originally conceived in 2018 as a vendor stall design for Harare's informal markets, this project evolved into something more meaningful during the COVID-19 pandemic. When lockdowns created urgent need for community food sources, Simba connected with Kura, an organization in Mbare that empowers children through art, music, and permaculture while developing community gardens to feed residents.

Completed in 2022, the Veggie Stand serves as both an education hub for children in the Kura program and the primary selling point for community-grown produce. The design prioritizes flexibility and functionality, featuring foldable, versatile panels that can adapt to different configurations. Working directly with the Mbare community, the team sourced materials locally and collaborated with artisans to creatively reuse plastic for mesh layers and roofing.

The construction process embodied true community collaboration: local artists from the Mbare Art Space painted the stand and created mesh elements, while a neighborhood seamstress crafted the fabric roof components. Since its February 2022 launch, the stand has served as a vibrant gathering place.

Nora Müller, a local architect and member of the team said about the launch event, “people gathered at the stand to share and gain knowledge about the herbs and vegetables. The bold colors and design of the stand pulled people in and made them curious after seeing a familiar typology, the market stand, implemented in a new and surprising way”.
Team: Simba Mafundikwa, Uncle Bravo, Nora Elizabeth Müller, Moffat Takadiwa, Austin Zuze,
Swarts, Patricia Murembeni, Julio Rizhi & Kundai Nathan.

Role: Design and project lead

Photography: Tichakunda Mafundikwa, Simba Mafundikwa & Nora Elizabeth Müller.

Sketches Credit: Simba Mafundikwa

Process & Construction


Design Development


Opening

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