1.4 DESIGN STRATEGIES

1.4 Design Strategies

With consideration on local operation and management, design strategies focus on WASH and power services solutions as well as promoting gender equality with a respect on local context including social values and existing infrastructure condition. The objective of design strategies here is to improve women’s life quality by having more convenient and safe access to necessity and education, in a way that is consistent with local knowledge and culture. Details and explanation of design would be elaborated in latter chapters.

1.4.1 WASH service solutions In rural area like Baghere Village, water is distributed to wells by private water companies; people access water through the closest well where the water is not treated and shared within the community. People also collect water from nature, such as river, pond and rain, which are used for both agricultural production and daily wash. Women have to use bucket to obtain water from the well and carry them on shoulder or head from the well to their home, causing back pains and shoulder strains easily. Water quality is poor which is the main reason of high infant mortality due to diarrhea.

Sanitation in rural areas in Senegal is lagging behind where squat toilet is commonly used that is just a little more than a deep hole in the ground with some loose boards on top, shared with the neighbourhood and no internal light, which is smelly and unsafe. Women are afraid to go at night and even during daytime if they have to leave children out of the toilet alone (Hollmén Reuter Sandman Architects, 2021).

To provide safe water supply and sanitation services in the building, rainwater collection and biogas plant are introduced.

- Rainwater collection system Rainwater collection is familiar with local people; design of the building would help women collect water more easily and with consideration on hygiene. Tilted roof would help rainwater captured where gutters and downpipes direct water flow into rainwater tanks placed outside of the building filtered with bamboo strings or leaves, protecting water from flies and bugs. The main uses of the rainwater are for toilet washing and irrigation.

Fig.3 Bucket and pulley system on a well

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Fig.4 Rainwater collection system

- Biogas plant Biogas plant is proposed in landscape design trying to achieve low energy consumption and address the sanitation issue in toilets. ‘Connecting’ to the toilet, human waste is transported to the biogas plant with a sloped underground design. Generated fertiliser then flows into a collection bucket on the ground ready for use in agriculture.

This proposal is beneficial for local development and actually in line with the national energy development strategy. In 2017, the government t’s National Domestic Biogas Programme in Senegal (PNB-SN) set goals of installing 10,000 domestic biodigesters by 2019, with a capacity for 9500 rural households across the country (Ba & Medoc, 2017). This project is expected to benefit from related supportive policies and existing knowledge and experiences across the country.

Fig.5 Biogas plant illustration

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1.4.2 Power service solutions Due to a lack of development 70% of population in Sedhiou region still has no access to electricity. What’s worse, with population growth and urban development, the demand of electricity in the country is growing a lot faster than supply that causes frequent blackouts even in the capital and largest city of Senegal – Dakar (Energypedia, 2020; The New Humanitarian, 2006). As national energy plan on electricity programs, not until 2025 shall a full coverage of electricity including rural areas be expected (USAID, 2020).

From a local view, as electricity is not easily accessible, rechargeable lamp (39.7%) instead of electricity (24.2%) is the major source of artificial lighting for Sedhiou rural households. Electricity is not even available or used for cooking in the area whereas people mainly (86%) burn wood for energy for cooking.

Fig.6 Energy source for artificial lighting in Sedhiou rural area Source: Senegal Data http://senegal.opendataforafrica.org/gallery/Census-Data/Popularity

Fig.7 Energy source for cooking in Sedhiou rural area Source: Senegal Data http://senegal.opendataforafrica.org/gallery/Census-Data/Popularity

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Therefore, solar power is proposed for sustainability of the project while electricity is also considered due to future infrastructure development.

- Electricity From actual site photo power post and electricity wires are existing in the area, for which it is assumed that electricity is available.

Electricity services is provided in the building for mainly lighting use, for example, dimmed light in toilet for evening use. Power switches and plugs are included for activities or management use.

However, knowing the unreliable local power capacity, passive design for efficient sunlight getting into building is significantly important that architectural design is trying to achieve.

- Solar panels As a low latitude country like Senegal (14°N), solar energy is abundant and shall be used as it is renewable and clean. In addition, it has a high market potential indicated in an increasing power consumption per capita in Senegal, which is doubled during the last decade (ESMAP, 2020). More importantly, it is also the Government of Senegal’s interests in developing solar energy application in rural areas. In recent years, the government has launched programs to electrify villages using solar panels as a main strategy to achieve the goal of full electricity coverage by 2025 (Takouleu, 2021; Feukeng, 2018). Therefore, proposing solar panel application in the project is consistent with the nation’s development strategy and expected to be supported by the government.

However, there are not existing local precedents of using off-grid solar panels in rural areas, which means that localisation shall be noticed from design to maintenance in order to use in a correct way. Some of the risks of the application are: o Ineffective design of solar panel system due to lack of knowledge o Increase costs of construction due to delivery o Injuries during installation of solar panel o Incorrect installation of solar panel system due to lack of experiences o Incorrect operation causing damages to human and property o Poor maintenance decreasing services lifespan

Mitigations on the risks could be: o Consultation on local community’s opinion on introducing new energy system

Fig.8 Site photo

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o Education on the knowledge of solar energy – make users feel it is an asset to them, that needs protection instead of damage o Training on installation and operation before construction o Sufficient consultation with Senegalese solar panels suppliers on construction methods o Sufficient consultation with experienced environmental system designer o Reach out government for help e.g. financial support o Complete a safe work method statement (SWMS) beforehand to increase buildability and safety at work o Have an operation illustration and warning notice if necessary in the building o Establish and monitor a maintenance plan throughout the lifespan.

1.4.3 Gender equity strategy About 70% of women in the project area spend 80% of the time on domestic activities. They are also playing an important role in agriculture such as rick growing. However, women have the least educational opportunities and ‘formal’ jobs in the labour force market, in addition to a cultural background that gender equality for women being discounted. It is unfortunate that women are being the pillar of society whereas not getting enough social recognition and support.

Early pregnancy and polygamy are two major issues that women in the project area would encounter in relationships – More than 30% of women in the area are in reproductive age of which 30% give birth in teenage time and 47% of women are in polygamous relationship (CESIE, 2010). It suggests that women have to bear lots of responsibilities since young age but in lack of enough skills, knowledge and resources as well as a mature mindset. A cruel fact is that they not only suffer from the scarcity of material resources but also phycological trauma.

In order to improve the situation of the women, the design of the project aims to promote gender equity via social recognition, education provision and humanistic care.

- Women’s participation in throughout the project Women’s participation is considered across all stages in the project (Refer to Fig.2) from identification of user’s requirements to long-term maintenance plan. This project is targeted as Women’s house that supposed to service and support women’s lives; women’s participation is vital to guarantee the output matches needs.

More importantly, it is believed that women get chances to upskill and gain knowledges where women’s contributions are recognised at work.

- Appreciation and respect to women’s works An exhibition wall displaying women and children’s art works including weaving and painting is designed for the building, through which expressing appreciation and respect to women’s work. It would improve women’s engagement and use after built, giving women’s satisfaction and a way to relieve pressure.

Besides, it brings attention to the community on beauty and female’s contributions. Gender equity is not only about female empowerment but also shall raise the awareness in the male

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community so that gender equity development can affect and benefit the entire community. By presenting women’s works it is believed to remind the community of a respect to women.

- Educational-purposed design To provide educational functions in the building reading room and educational landscape stones are considered. Reading room provides space and materials for education, and the landscape stones are carved with some basics such as numbers and short phrases in French.

- Customised toilet design for women In order to provide a clean and safe toilet that women are comfortable to use, internal dimmed lights are provided as well as a child seat. Screens around the toilets are provided which guarantee the privacy.

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