cultural center by amkna features a fountain to highlight the value of water in senegal

amkna design studio’s sedhiou cultural center is an intervention space that aims to create a platform for storytelling and historical ritual practices performed by minority groups in senegal. made of bamboo and bricks, the space features three main areas for educational events, exhibitions, and performances, while the centerpiece called ‘the treasure’ is a fountain representing the value of water in the country. 

UPDATE: this project was shortlisted in the ‘culture – future project’ category at the 2018 world architecture festival.

‘hundred-years-old cultures give birth to communities, being transmitted through rhymes of those who are narrating it and interpreting the past through wisdom,’ explains amkna. ‘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.’

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 on today’s 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 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.

the team

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edited by: maria erman | designboom