Kaira Loro- Cultural Center Senegal

UAUIM - Ion Mincu University of Architecture and Urban Planning

Project idea

THE IDEA OF THE PROJECT STARTED WITH THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY AS A PROTECTED SPACE OF SACRED VALUE, WHERE MULTIPLE ACTIVITIES AND DIFFERENT PEOPLE COME TOGETHER. WE WANTED TO CREATE A SPECIFFIC PLACE, A PLACE FOR THE COMMUNITY, A MARKED PLACE THAT WILL BE GIFTED WITH CHARACTER AND ORIENTATION AND WILL BECOME A SYMBOL OF THE CULTURAL IDENTITY OF THE PEOPLE.
WE GATHERED 4 INCLOSED SPACES TO HOST STANDARD ACTIVITIES , WORKING WITH FLEXIBLE SPACES AND LIGHT SEPARATION, FOLDING AND ROTATING WALLS THAT CAN COMBINE TWO ENCLOSED ROOMS OR OPEN UP TOWARDS THE OUTSIDE, IN ORDER TO SUIT DIFFERENT EVENTS AND TO ACCOMMODATE DIFFFERENT NEEDS.
THE REMAINING SPACE IS COVERED,YET OPEN, AND IS THE MAIN PLACE FOR CULTURAL MANIFESTATION. THE FOCAL POINTS OF THIS SPACE HAVE BEEN DESIGNED TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE SURROUNDINGS, THROUGH TWO MAIN ELEMENTS,SUCH AS THE TREE ON THE SITE, THAT HAS BEEN THE MAIN COMPOSITIONAL FIELD OF OUR PROJECT, AND THE LARGE ROOF OPENING, LOOKING TO THE SKIES, THUS EMPHASISING THE IDEA OF A CULTURAL SPACE AS A PLACE BETWEEN THE EARTH AND THE HEAVENS.
WE WORKED WITH LOCAL MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES, USING SIMPLE VAULTED STRUCTURES FROM CLAY BRICKS AND A WOODEN OVERLAYING STRUCTURE, COVERED WITH CANE. THE SIMPLYCITY OF THE COVERED VOLUMES ACTS LIKE NEUTRAL YET MEANINGFULL BACKGROUND FOR THE COMPLEXITY WITHIN THE CULTURAL AND TRADITIONAL MANIFESTATIONS OF THE COMMUNITY.
SUSTAINABILITY PLAYS AN IMPORTANT PART, AS WE PROVIDED AS MUCH SHADED AREA AS WE COULD GATHER IN ORDER TO BETTER COOL THE INSIDE SPACE. EACH VOLUME HAS WINDOWLESS OPENENINGS UNDER THE VAULTS TO ENSURE NATURAL TRANSVERSAL VENTILATION. WE THOUGHT ABOUT A SIMPLE SYSTEM TO COLECT AND STOCK RAIN WATER IN UNDERGROUND TANKS AND REUSE IT THROUGH PUMPS FOR ANIMAL CONSUMPTION OR GARDENING. ALSO, THROUGH THE LARGE OPENINGS IN THE ROOF WE ALLOW AIR TO CIRCULATE AND COOL ITSELF THROUGH THE CHIMNEY EFFECT.

Project description

The project was part of the Kaira Looro International competition, 2018 edition.

Technical information

The project made use of local materials, such as baobab and palm wood covered with cane, for the main structure, aswell as locally produced brick. The structural goal was to make the project as simple as possible, while reducing costs and unnecessary maneuvers.

Co-authors

Paul Mihai Solon