Situated on one of the main roads of the town, cutting through the center.
The town itself is set on the river Casamence, rich with mangrove woods and operating as main food source.
We see the tradition of wearing and the making of colorful fabrics, made with wax stamps, as a unifying traditional factor. It is known to be a major part of the Senegalese and west African life both traditionally and practically, and as an esoteric language. Taking this fact into account, we tried to make a fabric-like surrounding corridors around the main building (The Baobab) which envelope must of it and tried to give them both the textural feel and facade of traditional fabric stamps.
Examining what a ‘Cultural Center’, or a traditional ‘Archive’, will mean for a more verbal culture, we agreed that this place is ought to be a place of gatherings. From the wisdom of the Griot, to the sound of the Djembe and the Kora, and through the symbolism in the paintings and fabrics, we tried to make a place which will contain all the above.
In terms of character, we looked for a local icon that can communicate to everyone, putting aside cultural and religious differences. The Baobab tree, a national symbol for Senegal, is both an icon and a gathering place, among many other virtues he holds. In our interpretation, the huge volume of his trunk can turn into a container of big gatherings. The surroundings corridors supposed to give him more mystery and honor, as well as containing different kind of gatherings such like occasional drum or dance sessions.
Using traditional and local technologies such as laterite and clay bricks, along with the symbolic language of the Senegalese and west African culture and mixing it with the modern use of computer coding to plan the stacking of them, looked as the more subtle and humble way of intervening as foreigners to the place and culture.
The sustainability factor is expressed through the double façade, as well as the openings between the walls and the roof. There is also the idea of using the trees surrounding the building as natural shaders.
