Bulletin - EN 2023

Illustration photo

Editorial

The opportunity to be there, to create something new, to bring people together for a common cause, to prove to myself and often to other doubting people that everything we do in the company makes sense, has always driven me forward and forced me to innovate and take on new opportunities and challenges.

Those thirty years were not always easy, but even in the difficult moments, when we were fighting for every order, I never left that fantastic idea of uniqueness in invention and production of buildings under the conditions of line production –a building that is not a building in the traditional sense, but actually a kit.

Through persistent innovations, an obsession with cleanliness and quality, and dreams of a sophisticated production line, all of this has gradually created a culture in the company – a state where innovation acts as food for man. I can only conclude that the people

who design and create new and innovative creations of modular buildings and architecture every day are the true enthusiasts who enrich our lives. For me, personally, modular construction is a means to fulfill my life's mission of helping people around the world through the products I create and the work I do on a daily basis. The problem of providing quick housing and necessary sanitation conditions is currently manifesting itself increasingly. This has been confirmed many times in our company. This was the case with the delivery of modular buildings for refugees in Germany during the war in the former Yugoslavia or, for example, when we built facilities for Czech construction workers in Turkmenistan. Modular construction is used in a wide range of sectors and the highlight for us was the delivery of a modular airport in Senegal. This is the first airport in the world to be built in this way and we are proud that it was manufactured here in Vizovice in the Czech Republic.

I see modularity as one of the principles of a simpler future world. Modules are green and used in different configurations. Modular flexible farms, rental housing, and entire cities are the future. We put modules into use like trees grow in nature – we don't disturb anything – today with a crane, in the future with a drone. We must treat nature as a friend, recycle materials and put the principles of the circular economy into practice. In modular construction, we do not build foundations; we assembly modules on screws that are drilled into the ground. That way, we can build farms wherever suitable, or hospitals, retirement homes, schools, kindergartens, or whatever else the need dictates.

There's a lot more to come...

...and that's a good thing.

→ Stanislav Martinec

"A man who works doesn't need to cause trouble for anyone.“

"Opportunities multiply when they are seized and disappear when they are missed.“

"Life is just a long chain of opportunities."

Africa

When we think of countries in Africa, we may not often realise that it is the second largest continent after Asia. Therefore, before we get out to Saint-Louis itself, where the new KOMA airport is located, let's take a little trip to West Africa, where this city is located.

Senegal

The western part of the African continent, or West Africa if you like, is a territorial area that is drenched by the Atlantic Ocean from the west and south. The northern border is the opposite with the arid extremes of the Sahara Desert. In addition to Senegal, there are 15 other countries in the region with a total population of approximately 419 million. They live in countryside that is predominantly flat with an average altitude of 300 metres above sea level. The climate and environment are not very conducive to cattle farming, but the soil is quite fertile with coffee, oil palms, rice, cotton, and the cocoa trees grown here. Mineral mining is dominated by gold, manganese, phosphates, iron ore, and bauxite. Crude oil deposits could also be found in Nigeria and the famous, while simultaneously infamous, diamonds are mined in the Ivory Coast. Languages used in the states of West Africa are influenced by colonial history; we can hear French and English spoken here, but the native languages have not disappeared and we also encounter a great number of tribal languages within any single state. Senegal

is part of the West African Monetary Union, a group of countries that use the West African franc. However, apart from the currency, what unites the locals is their love of sport, especially football. Professional West African teams can be regularly seen competing at the World Cup.

→ Senegal

On the western side of the African continent, bordered by Mauritania, Mali, Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau, we find our destination, Senegal. It used to be considered the gateway to Africa. The name is derived from the word Sunugal, which can be loosely translated as, “We are all in the same boat”. The dry tropical climate is home to a population of 16.7 million people, a quarter of whom live in the capital city of Dakar and its immediate surroundings. The national philosophy of the ethnic population is based on three pillars: Kersa (respect towards others), Tegin (good manners) and Terranga (hospitality). Today, Senegal is considered one of the most stable states in West Africa.

Saint-Louis

→ Not everything in history was WOW

Senegal was a French colony for 300 years and, in fact, the first French military base was established there. In addition to French, Wolof is the other official language. Traces of this language can even be found in English. The interjection, WOW, comes from the Wolof language and means “yes”. The term made its way to the United States with slaves from Senegal and other countries. The sad history of colonialism is also evoked by the island of Gorée, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which served as a trading hub for slave traders.

→ The Little Prince in Senegal?

Senegal became a free country in 1960. However, smatterings of French colonialism can still be found in the country. One interesting example is the Faidherbe Bridge, designed by Gustave Eiffel. It is said that it was originally intended for use in Germany, but due to a loading error at the port it arrived in Senegal, where it is still in use today, as is the Eiffel Tower in Paris. However, Senegal also has connections with other aspects of European culture. During Senegal's golden era, when air traffic and transport routes from France to South America passed through the region, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry was active

there. Do you remember the baobabs that the Little Prince looked after? Yes, these thousand-year-old trees are the national tree of Senegal. On the outskirts of settlements, villages and towns, they protect against evil spirits and, under the baobabs, discussions and political agitations take place. It is very likely that the French writer took a liking to them here.

→ Wolof and other tribes

The Wolof make up the majority of the native population and there are 11 other indigenous

tribes in addition. The largest minority groups are the French and the Lebanese. The main religion is Islam, but it has many specific branches in the country and Senegal is considered relatively secular. Along the coast in particular, fishing is the main source of subsistence, which is of course also evident in the national cuisine. The national dish is Che Bu Jen – a dish of rice and fish cooked in tomato sauce.

Saint-Louis

Che Bu Jen is a typical dish for the inhabitants of this seaside town. It can be found approximately 300 kilometres from Dakar at the mouth of the Senegal River. The name, which is derived from the French kings named Louis, indicates that the town was founded by the French in the seventeenth century as a river fortress and the first European town in West Africa. Until 1902, it served as the capital of the whole of Senegal and the French colonies. It also played an important cultural and commercial role for all of West Africa.

→ Under the protection of the sea

The city was a trading destination not only for slave traders but also for Arab expeditions that exported and imported gold, pelts, precious stones, spices, and other goods. However, the coastline in the area is very treacherous for sailors, who often used the services of fishermen who were more experienced in the waters. Their business strategy was simple – either pay us now and we'll help you, or pay us in two days, which meant that the ensuing shipwrecks would give up their wealth anyway.

→ How do you recognize wealth?

As a city with a strong French influence and, at the same time, a mix of other cultures and inclinations shaped by the trade routes of other nations, Saint-Louis witnessed the emergence of new multicultural tendencies and the formation of a new humanism, which sometimes may have gone against the local population. However, the people of Saint-Louis were among the first to acquire official Senegalese citizenship and the right to vote. The island of Saint-Louis, which is part of the city, is even protected by UNESCO having witnessed colonial tendencies and in particular their influence on urban planning and cultural development. Houses with balconies are typical and they held a special significance in the past. They were display pedestals to show off prized feminine consorts of wealthy colonialists, the so-called “signars”. The balcony was a way of identifying the house of

a truly rich and respected gentleman. Today, the city's population is approximately 258 000. Although it is no longer the capital, it is still considered an essential point of industry and tourism. It is also important for the fishing industry and the sugar industry. Interestingly, each activity is carried out by different tribes. The Wolof and Lebous are mainly fishers and form fishing communities; the Fulas, in contrast, live further from the sea and engage in shepherding and farming. In addition to UNESCO heritage, music festivals working with local music and historical roots are part of the culture and tourism. The Saint-Louis Jazz Festival, the most important jazz festival in Africa, is also held here.

Saint-Louis

Airport in numbers

111 modules

This is the number of modules that make up the airport terminal, which creates approximately 2,700 m2 of usable space.

July 2022 and the airport was opened on 14 July 2022 in the presence of the President of the Republic of Senegal, Hon. Macky Sall.

Airport design

→ Airport design

The design of the modular airport was a challenge. Airport buildings are characterized by large open spaces with high ceilings and without the columns typical of modular construction. Therefore, we had to take a different approach to the design itself. A design was elaborated where the modules are arranged in rows and serve as columns that form the basic structure of the airport, upon which the partial roof structure is placed. This created the open airy spaces of the high clearance halls. To test the system in practice, we manufactured and assembled a prototype in Vizovice. We tested it, verified the functionality and safety of the whole system to make sure that it met all requirements and standards. After successful prototyping, we were able to start serial production of all 142 modules that make up Saint-Louis Airport.

→ Technical specification

The steel-framed structure of the modules is made of bent galvanized profiles based on static calculations provided by a certified company in accordance with Eurocodes. The dimensions of the supporting frames are L6050 or 3025 × W2430 × H3000 mm. The load-bearing structures of the glazed facades and the main hall of the terminal are also made of steel – the roof cladding is made of sandwich thermal and waterproofing panels. The building is designed to withstand a maximum wind intensity of 41 m/s. The building has a secondary cladding with sandwich thermal insulation panels.

Window openings are filled with triple glazed aluminum profiles with a high solar filter to minimize heat transfer into the building and improve thermal comfort inside the building.

→ Technologies used

In general, the aim was to make the airport as simple as possible so that the operation would be as easy as possible taking into account local staffing and conditions. The outdoor ventilation and air-conditioning units are installed in modules on the roofs of the buildings. The units were assembled at the manufacturing facility – entire modules were then lifted onto the roof and only the connection of the units was carried out on site.

Due to insufficient water sources on site, it was not possible to use conventional extinguishing sprinklers. Therefore, a mist sprinkler system was installed, which uses a much smaller amount of water.

→ Terminal building

The passenger terminal is the main building in the planned Saint-Louis airport complex. The building is designed for international commercial air traffic. The expected LoS for the Saint-Louis terminal, according to the international IATA and DGAC classification, is equivalent to Level E. The airport has a handling range designed for a peak daily capacity of 2 Boeing 737-300 aircrafts with 154 departing and 154 arriving passengers.

→ Technical highlights:

The roof panels were already coated with TPO foil during the production, only the joints were made on site. Full-scale bonding on site was unrealistic due to dust and strong winds. Due to the location near the sea, the strong winds, and the subsoil, we had to design for high static loads. The secondary façade is attached to the frame without the use of a grid; we had to modify the profiles for this purpose in the factory. The steel in the halls is fire protected for 30 minutes. The exposed profiles of the steel structure and the roof are structurally designed for

this fire resistance. The module frames are protected by SDK cladding. The cladding was also used for cable routing throughout the structure. No vapour barrier is used in the buildings – this is due to the climatic conditions.

Facilities and services related to the checking of passengers’ boarding cards on departure

Passport control on departure and lounge

VIP lounge for passengers on departure

Departure gate lounge

Security scanning of passengers’ hand baggage on departure, waiting area

Gate for checking passengers before boarding the aircraft on departure

Baggage security check, overweight baggage check-in

Check-in counters and lounge

Hall for the public and for passengers on arrival

Customs control for passengers on arrival

Post-arrival passenger control equipment

Airport design

Baggage reclaim area

Automatic belt

Passport control on arrival and lounge

Post-arrival passenger gates

The terminal and hangar buildings were designed by the Borci s.r.o. architectural studio, architects Sikora and Borecký. The production documentation was prepared

in cooperation with KOMA MODULAR s.r.o. and other subcontractors. The project was conceived in 2021 and implemented in 2022.

Despite the difficult living conditions, Senegalese people are usually very hospitable and friendly.

The reconstruction of five regional airports is one of the Senegalese Government's biggest projects.

The modular airport is unique in the world.

Time passes differently in Senegal, one must get used to the fact that everything happens three times more slowly.

The Project is Very Important for Our Community

Read an interview with Ibrahima Sow, who was the leader of the local Senegalese community of Bango. He not only helped KOMA staff with the project but also, in many cases, with cultural assimilation.

To begin, please introduce yourself – where are you from, and how old are you?

My name is Ibrahima Sow. I'm from Bango (Saint-Louis) and I'm 32 years old.

You're a representative of the local community. Can you tell us something about it?

I am a representative of the Bango community, which is very close to the airport. The original airport was founded in 1957 and we have had very good relations ever since.

Do you remember when you heard that a new airport was going to be built?

I found out about the project in 2018 when staff arrived to carry out an environmental and social impact assessment (SEA, editor's note).

How did you get involved in the construction of the airport? And what was your role in the project? What were your tasks?

I got involved in the project through Mr. Mazánek (former diplomat, Ilja Mazánek, was a key person for the delivery of airports in Senegal, editor's note) and my task was to manage all the storage of construction materials, especially from containers.

What does the opening of the new airport mean for the region?

This project is very important for our community, as it is a great opportunity for youth employment and especially for local economic activities.

How did you get on with your colleagues from KOMA? Did you learn any words in Czech?

I have a good relationship with the KOMA staff. I learned my first Czech words with them, although it was a bit amusing at first.

And how was the collaboration for you? Are the Czechs the same as, or different from, your colleagues?

It's a very pleasant collaboration because most of them are nice people and especially professional – they know what they are doing.

How did you feel when you finished the airport and the handover ceremony took place? I have mixed feelings about it. I'm happy and sad at the same time because, sometimes, it's hard to see people go home when you've had close relationships with them beyond the professional ones. I remember when KOMA finished the buildings – many people in the community were sad and even cried over those going back to the Czech Republic.

What problems did you face during the construction of the airport?

I wouldn't exactly call it a problem except that, sometimes, there are language barriers in communication with some colleagues and that can cause misunderstandings.

Colleagues from KOMA have often talked about the crazy temperatures in Senegal, how do you feel as a local?

I understand that they often have problems with the heat because there is a big difference between the temperatures in Europe and here in Senegal.

What changes do you perceive in the local community after the completion of the project?

The project was definitely beneficial for us. Our citizens had good jobs thanks to the project (and I thank KOMA for that, which contributed a lot to the employment of our young people). We are also looking forward to the community project, which is being implemented by the Embassy of the Czech Republic in cooperation with KOMA (Bango Community Centre, editor's note). We really welcome this help to the community.

What have you learned about working on such a large international project? Thanks to this project, I have gained a lot of experience. It was an opportunity for me to work with people from abroad – I learned a different approach and gained new knowledge.

What are your plans now that the airport is finished?

Nothing is certain right now. You know, I'm a young man who's still trying to make his dreams come true – to keep looking for opportunities to work and to be able to realize my projects.

What should one know about Senegal and Senegalese people before coming to the country?

I think they should study more about the mentality of Senegalese people and find information about how to communicate with them before arriving and, also, to know some Senegalese facts. The problems you encounter as Czechs here often stem from the fact that you want to behave the same way that you do at home, but you are in a completely different environment.

Logistics

It took almost a year for the individual parts and materials for the construction of the airport to arrive from the Czech Republic and Italy. Let's take a look at the logistics of the project, which not only included coordination within KOMA in Vizovice, but also the teamwork with subcontractors. In order not to get lost on the 7,000-kilometre journey, the modules had to be wrapped in foil and numbered after production. The numbers are not only markers for transport, but also for the crane operators who loaded and unloaded the modules at the various stops between

Vizovice and Saint-Louis. The expedition underwent special customs clearance. Every module and shipping container with material had to have its own bill of lading. The most complicated was the clearance of the socalled ADR goods. (These are hazardous substances such as paints, sprays, gases, etc., editor's note) These are subject to an IMO declaration, which defines which substances and combinations of substances can be shipped together. These goods are then given a special label and safety class. Goods on the route from Vizovice to Hamburg were

transported in trucks. Here, the containers were transferred to the RoRo ship, Grande Angola, on special chassis (technically, muffy trailers) to the hull of the ship.

The ship docked at Dakar's largest port. From this point, the cargo continued on trucks to the storage facility. We wanted to use all the space for logistics. The material and equipment were packed both in shipping containers and in the airport modules themselves. The assembly material and other equipment were transported in KPT boxes. Thanks to their ideal dimensions, they filled the spaces of the modules perfectly and there was a minimum of wasted space during transport. As there was a lot of material – a mobile ware-

house was created on site from the shipping containers brought in with an arched structure and a canvas cover installed between them. One of our warehouse employees from the Czech Republic was on site and was in charge of all material movement. All the material, after being picked up in Vizovice, was prepared electronically for the Saint-Louis registration warehouse. From there, the warehouse worker took out the material in the standard fashion using the tablets we use in our Vizovice operation. This provided us with an overview of the material in stock both in Vizovice and on site. We were, thus, able to react with flexibility in the event that we were running low on materials.

Saint-Louis Community Centre to be Modular

As you already know, the Saint-Louis International Airport has undergone a major reconstruction and the subsequent transformation of the urbanized structure has most affected the adjacent rural community of Bango. This community is home to approximately 2,000 members of the Polar tribe who still follow a traditional way of life based mainly on shepherding and fishing. In order to improve the socio-economic and inclusive development of the community while focusing on activities for youth and women, it was decided to build a community centre to become a full component of the village and serve all social and community groups. Modules worth approximately CZK 0.5 million will be donated by KOMA MODULAR to build the centre. The aim is also to preserve traditional skills that have been passed down from generation to generation and their connections with the surrounding nature and countryside, which is undergoing urbanization and facing the associated risks, especially socio-environmental factors. The community has a traditional structure, which includes a chief and elders. The community centre is intended to serve

all social and community groups, where all generations will intermingle and, thus, the transfer of traditions, knowledge, and skills will continue. The project will also serve as an education centre to help the local community better integrate into today's modern society and protect the ecological and natural values of the area in order to preserve and develop their natural potential. This project is being implemented by the non-profit organization, SOS Langue de Barbarie, which has long been active in the Saint-Louis region and focuses mainly on socio-ecological projects with a focus on local youth and works with the local community and educational organizations. These projects have in the past included cleaning up the beaches of the local fishing community of Ger Ndar and developing agricultural activities for local farmers such as tree planting.

→ Everything under one modular roof

A functional modular building will be constructed as the community centre. The central layout will serve as a gathering facility with a covered outdoor area adjacent to

a newly constructed community garden with elements of traditional local architecture and art. The community centre space will have solar panels, a library, toilets, showers, and a small kitchen – it will also serve as a facility for children by making use of the local football pitch. The building will also serve the purpose of hosting a wide range of social activities, particularly lectures and themed workshops. The adjacent garden will be an arboretum for traditional local trees and plants. In addition, it will be used as a community garden for local people, especially women, who will look after the garden and then harvest and sell its produce. The local women and girls will be involved in the operation and activities of the community centre, which will lead to the elevation of their socio-economic status and increase their status and potential for social equalization. The garden area will provide a showcase for local traditional architecture and may host workshops to practice traditional crafts and improve the technical skills of community members.

→ Reviving village life

The community centre will be a central place for village life, which has long been lacking.

SOS Langue de Barbarie, as well as other non-profit and donor organizations active in Senegal, will be able to use the space to train local residents in agricultural development, environmental issues, hygiene, sanitation, and other key topics. The community centre will be a good example of Czech involvement in Senegal, contributing to the cohesion of the local community and the development of good relations in the neighbourhood of the large Czech airport project. The community centre will be able to make ends meet through the monetization of the produce grown in the community garden, along with the ongoing involvement of the non-profit organisation SOS Langue de Barbarie. The existence of this centre will have a major impact on the development of the entire community. It is another step in this effort to help the local community and to support its development as it faces urbanization pressures and changes in its environment.

Bikes for Africa

The average age in Senegal is 19, and 18 in The Gambia. Many children in Africa live on the streets and have difficulties in accessing education. It is many kilometres to the nearest school, to which children travel on foot – this takes up a lot of time and energy. Therefore, parents often leave children at home and their education falls by the wayside. And since education and human development also play a huge role at KOMA, we would like to introduce you to the Bikes for Africa project. In 2012, Roman Posolda and Richard Gazda founded Bikes for Africa, a public service organization (www.kolaproafriku.cz), whose main mission is to provide children in Africa with a path to education through this initiative from the people of the Czech Republic. Czech people donate bicycles to be repaired and transported to Africa

by the organization. The imported bicycles support an overall increase in literacy and represent an opportunity for employment and increased civic status for local people.

→ How does the project work?

Anyone in the Czech Republic can donate a bicycle at one of the collection points. As of the end of 2022, there were 56 of collection depots across the Czech Republic and two in Slovakia. Bikes can be in poor condition – spare parts or reflective vests are also accepted. The bicycles are then transported to the central warehouse at Ostrava prison, where prisoners sort the bicycles and repair those in need of it. Some of them remain in the Czech Republic because they are not suitable for African conditions. The bikes that are not shipped are recycled, upgraded,

dismantled, or sold. The bikes and spare parts destined for Africa are then loaded into shipping containers and transported by sea to Gunjur, Gambia, to a local warehouse. The average cost of transporting a bicycle to The Gambia is CZK 1,000. Bikes for Africa have contracted local schools to run bike repair shops and train mechanics. The aim of the project is not only to bring bicycles to children in Africa, but also to teach them how to maintain them. They receive the bicycles in a disassembled state – in a bicycle kit containing frame, wheels, forks, handlebars, chain, pedals, etc. They assemble the bicycles themselves under the guidance of the school bicycle mechanic.

→ Bicycles in Africa

The organization encourages Gambian schoolchildren to check their bicycles regularly. It teaches them how to repair a puncture – the most common problem. The children have a bike service station at school so they can tune up their bikes and do minor servicing themselves if need be. At the end of the assembly week, the children build a bike parking lot. Again, this is an activity that sup-

ports the project in schools and deepens the children's relationship with their new bike. The bicycle has brought new opportunities to Gambian children and responsibility with it. It is through the responsibility they feel for their new means of transport that they will take good care of the bikes to ensure long-lasting service.

You can support the project through the Donio.cz platform

Construction of a modular airport in Saint-Louis, Senegal

Much has already been said in our previous talks and presentations to the professional community and the general public about Transcon Electronic Systems' approximately 30 years of experience using modular solutions for our airport infrastructure products. Modularity is a principle that we eventually decided to apply to the complete airport solution we are now building in Senegal, West Africa. Senegal is a country that, compared to the European environment, offers a whole series of practical and logistical challenges and associated risks. The modular approach helps us to significantly reduce these challenges and risks as we import individual prefabricated modules directly from the Czech Republic to Africa and then quickly assemble them on site like a Lego set. The modular airport construction project in Senegal is undoubtedly the largest

Czech project in sub-Saharan Africa over the last few decades, and it is succeeding (even though there have been occasional “labour pains”) in re-establishing the earlier Czechoslovak tradition of building investment units in the Global South. These are so desperately needed – the development of modern infrastructure and industry (alongside other structural changes) are necessary for regional development and socio-economic stability. They can have a positive impact on poverty reduction and reduce or, ideally, eliminate, some negative phenomena such as the much-discussed illegal migration from these parts of the world to EU countries. The construction of the airport cannot, of course, in itself radically change all the complex macroeconomic and structural challenges facing the economy of the country concerned, but there can be no doubting the

positive benefits of the project (for Senegal and the Czech Republic). To evaluate this project, we should, therefore, look not only at traditional economic indicators, or how many Czech companies have been involved in the project, but also at how the project has impacted the lives of the local communities located in the areas where the modular airports are being built. The construction of the Saint-Louis airport, for example, presented a number of challenges for the local communities. For instance, the reconstruction of the local airport required the relocation of the local cemetery located at the site of the extended runway, which is almost un-

thinkable in the Islamic world. It also resulted in the disruption of the migration routes of local herders who were used to driving their cattle through the airport area. These are only a few obvious things that the local community has traded for the promise of jobs during the construction of the airport and those resulting from its future operation. Future opportunities include, in particular, the development of tourism (in a city that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the development of a logistics base for the extraction of natural gas (from Senegal's Atlantic waters), and better connections with the metropolis of Dakar and other parts of the country.

Construction of a modular airport in Saint-Louis, Senegal

I am therefore very pleased that our partners at KOMA have not disregarded the issue of good relations with the local community and the need for its development, and have engaged very sincerely and seriously in this matter. As a result of KOMA's work in Saint-Louis, about fifty local workers have worked alongside Czech technicians and engineers and learned the modular way of building construction from them, which is not so often encountered under African conditions. And this has strengthened their existing technical skills and, in some cases, their ability to build buildings. The Czech team managed to train new craftsmen such as electricians and plumbers, who will undoubtedly take this experience with them to other jobs and projects, or even set up their own enterprises in the future.

Working on the Czech project was undoubtedly interesting from the Senegalese side

because it was a disruption of the established paradigms as similar large projects in the country are usually undertaken by bigger players mainly from France, China or Turkey. Compared to the Chinese projects, which are characterized by the intensive involvement of Chinese experts and workers at practically all levels, the Senegalese side gained greater opportunities for the participation and involvement of its own people and enterprises in the Czech project.

Compared to examples of French projects, the linguistic aspect was more pronounced, as the majority of the Czech staff members are not francophone and both sides had to help each other with their often broken English, which could be comical at times and was undoubtedly beneficial for the development of all the actors involved. Equally important was the fact that it was also an opportunity for our colleagues to introduce their Senega-

lese partners to a country that, initially, was unknown to them, but which has a number of economic and cultural achievements and attributes that the Senegalese can identify with. Namely, the country of Petr Čech, the man who brought Senegalese professional national team goalkeeper Édouard Mendy to Chelsea in London; a country that is not burdened by colonialism – it might declare to have been virtually colonised itself; the country where the Bata shoes originally came from (from the KOMA region of Zlín), which were the first shoes many of today's young Senegalese grandparents ever wore; the country where the Škoda Octavia (first generation) cars that are so popular with local taxi drivers originated; and the country where the VEBA fabrics worn by many a Senegalese woman originated. I am therefore once again very grateful to KOMA for working with the local community and helping to spread the good name of the Czech Republic in Senegal.

→ Ilja Mazánek

Ilja Mazánek jr. studied Arabic and International Development at the University of Leeds (UK). In the past, he worked for the oil company, ExxonMobil, and the consultancy, Deloitte. He is currently leading Transcon Electronic Systems' representation in Dakar, Senegal, as part of a regional airport reconstruction project. He speaks fluent Arabic, English, Bulgarian and French. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, aviation, and 3D printing.

Construction of a modular airport in Saint-Louis, Senegal

Modularity promotes development.

We would like to thank all our fellow-workers and suppliers who participated in the project of the world's first modular airport, namely:

→ Main suppliers:

TRANSCON: General contractor, electronics

KOMA MODULAR: Supplier of modular buildings incl. building equipment

Colas: Supplier of building work

TECHNISERV: Supplier of navigation systems

Keramoprojekt: Chief planners

Borci: Designers of modular buildings

SAFETY PRO: Construction management, engineering supervision

→ Fellow-workers:

Filip Kováč: Sales Director for the Project

Tomáš Borecký: Architect/Head of Construction

Ondřej Sikora: Architect/Ch. Eng.

Michal Koval: Designer

Radomír Glac, Michal Drábek: Contract Designers

Martin Mališka: Chief Budget Officer

Zdeněk Krejčí: Subcontract Coordination, Schedule Manager

Jiřina Grygarová: Financial Director

Vladimíra Čablová: Senior Controller - Economics

Roman Rožnovják: Quality Manager

Kamil Kovář, Martin Čada: Module Production Manager

David Masař: Head of Logistics

Patrik Paroulek: Head of Purchasing

Jaroslav Suchanek: On-site Warehouse Manager

Martina Holbová: Administration

Marie Schüller, Lucie Füchsová: Marketing, presentations

We also thank all the subcontractors who supplied electrical work, legal advice, building equipment, taxation consulting, occupational health and safety and design work, occupational health and safety, design work and fire and electrical safety system.

Illustration photo

KOMA Bulletin – a periodical about modular architecture and construction by KOMA FAMILY group.

#22

April 2023

Published by KOMA MODULAR s.r.o.

Editorial Staff

Marie Schüller, Martin Mališka, Tomáš Borecký, Ilja Mazánek Jr., Roman Posolda, Magdaléna Řiháková

Photography

Tomáš Borecký, Studio Rokhaya, KOMA MODULAR archive

Produced by KNOW HOW solutions s.r.o.

Printing House TRIKOLORA, s.r.o.