Home / Kaira Looro / I Temi del workshop / Gli studi / Programma / Download / Sponsor / Il progetto sostenuto / Iscrizioni / Contatti
The village of Nianga is situated between the sub-centres Tanaf and Kolda, in the southern part of Balmadou forest. Located along an east-west connection parallel to the border of Guinea Bissau, the life of the villagers is characterised by the street traffic – mostly pedestrians, bikes, motorcycles and a few cars and trucks – and the natural resources of the areas nearby. On the Southern part of the road along the Casamance River, we can find rice fields, whereas on the northern part we can find vegetable fields and scattered orchards. Despite the presence of the road, Nianga seems a bit isolated, with only a few connections to the surrounding small villages and farms. This lack of density and importance – urbanistically as well as thematically – will be improved by the construction of a new centre for arts and handicraft. Analysing the village configuration we observed that the majority of constructions are made of simple self-similar farmhouses with just one ground floor. They are located within a compound with a closed wall around the plot. At the eastern entrance of the village we find three big (empty) enclosures and in-between them a mosque as the only representative building made of a particular form. Because of this existing gateway on the east side, we decided to place the new centre of art and handicraft on the western side in order to define the entrance of Nianga.Both public buildings – the handicraft centre and the existing mosque – will mark out a spatial territory and define a new identity. A clearly visible (white) rainwater canal parallel to the road supports the new spatial configuration by linking visually the two most important buildings of Nianga. Along this water canal, the existing wells are distributed in the village. The project is developed following the traditional construction techniques used in Senegal: building a wall. However, we are proposing to replace the enclosure (a wall around the plot), by an unfolded and stretched wall. This offers various advantages: Indeed, an enclosure would not be appropriate for a public building. The new centre for art and handicrafts will give a new identity and meaning to the village of Nianga. Therefore the proposal seeks to invite as many people as possible. The unrolled wall will be used for exhibiting the diverse types of handicraft by transforming it into an exhibition display, a pedestal, a vitrine, niche etc. As a linear element in the flat landscape of Tanaf Bolong, the wall creates a horizontal “landmark” which appears under the treetops. Furthermore, the proposal offers an optimal visibility from the street to the approaching visitors and passersby. The length of the wall can vary and be replicated and adapted to other locations (villages) with probably other building methods and traditions. Inspired by the local Senegalese handicraft and its famous colourful baskets, the wall will be constructed in Pisé (adobe) Technique. The different layers of rammed earth (clay) in different earth tones will give a natural appearance. Holes and pieces of wood are used as mould to build the wall. The insertion of these wooden elements will intensify the expressive image. Eventually, the wall forms courtyards for storage and security reasons. All the functions (program) of the Handicraft Centre are positioned along the wall on both sides. The handicrafts are mainly furniture objects, made of ebony carvings, but also masks, sculptures and many other African handicraft products such as baskets, textiles and jewellery. Openings in the wall allow a connection between the functions and provide a pathway from the street to the forest, where the artists and craftsmen get the wood and the materials for their works. All functions on both sides of the wall are either closed rooms or covered spaces. The closed rooms have double roofs for air-cooling and ventilation. All roofs are inclined towards the wall, so that the rainwater is collected in a gutter. As the terrain is inclined, the gutter (on top of the wall) directs the water towards a water tank located in the courtyard at the street. In this way, the scenic qualities of the design is complemented by the practical and very necessary use of the collection of water in an area where high-salinity waters destroy the land.
Project by:
X Architekten_Rainer Kasik
TAT Studio_Enrico Finocchiaro, Riccarda Iacono
Rossana Anfuso, Federica Carollo, Donatella Incardona, Matteo Lacchia, Giorgia Mazzeo, Chiara Musumeci, Enrico Pannacci, Ludovica Paterni, Elisa Scolaro, Marica Sorrentino, Claudio Torre
