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Cultural Center in Senegal, Africa | International Competition

Posted on 25 February, 2018 by Hasan Prince

COMPETITION BRIEF

Cultural Center in Senegal, Africa | KAIRA LOORO International Architecture Competition

Hundred-years old cultures give birth to Communities, being transmitted through rhymes of those who are narrating it and interpreting the past through wisdom. One’s accomplishments result from rituals and metamorphosis, bonding the human being to its own roots through dance, history, music, colors, flavors, materials and landscapes. Space and Matter relate themselves to the power of rituals, drawing together the lines of an architecture encharged of passing and preserving History.

THEME

The intervention area represents a breeding ground of centuries-old cultures, rich in rituals and experiences coming from father to son, and telling stories about Africa. Cultures here are mixing together in harmony, within an environment full of experiences. Some of those ethnic groups are deeply rooted in history, and, since they never had any archives or written works, they passed those stories only thanks to words coming from the Elders. Globalization effects are reflecting today on communities, putting ancient rituals and the preservation of cultural identities down the risk.
The town of Sedhiou, one amongst the less well fixed, has no places to let its own community spread its culture and habits, where to have the chance for everyone to relate and express themselves through arts those art the region is rich in. Here it comes the need to design a meeting place, promoting culture and witness of a location put in discussion during regional conflicts occurred between 1980 and 2005.

PROGRAM

The planning of a Cultural Center for the city of Sedhiou aims to renovate the identity of the area, trying to reach the goal of creating a location where local cultures may have the chance to be told, passed on and preserved. This challenge sees the planning of an architectural structure as a witness of the peaceful relation occurring among local ethnic groups and promoting, at the same time, preservation of local habits. The competitor will show his theme through a surprising and integrated design at once, developing a structure destined to be an Icon for the entire country, without weighing on the surrounding environment. The Architectural structure will require:

Maximum surfaces: 550 m2 for the indoor area, 400 m2 for the open space area. Maximum height of 8 mt;
Three main designed areas for Education, Exhibitions, and Performances. Furthermore, Bureau and Restrooms must be included;
A call to economic intervention and sustainability;
The need of dealing with subjects such as timing or relative problems linked to the structure development, to be set within an area where no specialized workforce exists. For the same reason, projects displaying care about developing time, self-construction and implementation aspects, will be encouraged;
The preference of local and natural materials, being provided from surrounding areas and occasionally re-usage of waste products;
Optimization and preservation of water supplying ;
Flexible open spaces;

Available on site materials or findable nearby consist in Bamboo, Clay Bricks (usual size: 20x30x15cm), Cement Bricks (20x30x15cm), metal plates, straw, laterite stones, shells, sand, wooden beams and boards, Clay, Palm tree leaves. Unmentioned materials may be imported from abroad or surrounding main cities, including increasing developing costs.

All necessary documentation about project development is available to free download on a dedicated section of the website. Materials and images are protected by Copyright and must be exclusively used within the context of this competition.

JURY

SCHEDULE

Cultural Center in Senegal, Africa

Location | Africa, Senegal, Sedhiou

Intervention | New Construction

Destination | Cultural Center

Requirement | 1 Under 35 Member Each Team At Least

Target | Architects – Designers – Students

Awards | 2.500€ – Internship At Kengo Kuma Office In Tokyo

Registration Opens | 15 Jan 2018 – 4 Apr 2018

Submission Deadline | 25 Apr 2018

REGISTRATION FEES

Early registration – 60€/team

Normal registration – 90€/team

Late registration – 120€/team

AWARDS

1st PRIZE

_ € 2,500

_ Internship at Kengo Kuma Associates, Tokyo

_ Award plaque

_ Possible realization of the project