17 1.1 Under the Grace

1.1 Under the Grace

Kaira Looro | Cultural Centre Competition

Teamwork Project Role in Project: Algorithm studying, Conceptual Design, Sturctural Design, Digital Modeling and Diagram Drawing Instructor: Chibiao Hao, Ran Cheng, Xuechuan Geng April 2018

Hundred-years old Baobabs not only give birth to the prosperity history of Senegal, but also shelter the people who live on this ancient land generation after generation and the resplendent culture they had created via wisdom.

Giant Baobabs standing in Africa Forest, a huge green net is generated by dense as well as interwoven canopy. It could protect people from a blistering sun. Under the grace of Baobab, people pass on and preserve the age-old history and resplendent culture by ancient music and dances.

Like the tempting rhythm and beautiful dances, the huge canopy of Baobab had already become an important symbol of local culture. The canopy not only provides shelter to residents, but also attracts people from different cultures and religions, promotes cultures' communication invisibly.

Thick and strong Baobab trunk also give us inspiration. In the past, people would hold the ceremony inside the hollow trunk of Baobab. We create some tubular structure. They support roof and provides a specific space for residents to learn and inherit their culture. Simultaneously, we extract the spatial sequence of local village, and put this into our design, which means the traditional culture and residents are sheltered by the dense Baobab canopy.

Symbol of Africa

Baobab is an important symbol locally. It is not only an endemic species in west Africa, but also a prat of local people's life and culture. Therefore, we believed that baobab is the start point to develop our concept and an important element we need to implement in the design.

Local Villages' Spatial Sequence

By researching different kinds of local dwellings and village in the range of Senegal, we extract the main spatial sequence of local villages: several individual buildings enclose a public space that for social activities. Our design is based on this principle and evolve from original.

Skin

Function

People Flow

Relationship with Surrounging

Site

Generation Process

The generation process includes three parts: initially, determine the relationship between the cultural centre and the statue. Secondly, dividing the site plan by flow. Lastly, reflecting the concept of baobab by blending into environments.

A. Administration Area B. Education Area C. Main Exhibition Hall D. Attached Exhibition Hall E. Toilet F. Atrium G. Square

Building Plan

By diminishing the obstruction of walls as more as possible, the cultural centre will become a public gathering are for residents and visitors for social community.

Thatch Roof

Thatch is widely used in local dwellings, say roof, for the reason that it is heat proof and air permeable.

Bamboo Roof Structure

Bamboo could be processed easily and firm enough to support the thatch roof. Also, bamboo is basical plant locally .

Rammed Earth Wall

The bamboo framework inside the earth wall could strengthen the wall.

Round Log Pillar

Local round log is sufficient as well as quality. With simple process, those logs could be used as pillar.

Stone Foundation

Compared with other kinds of material locally, stone is the most suitable one which could be applied in foundation.

Cultural Centre

The cultural centre is a public place where local resident could celebrate festivals and organize events .

Structure and Construction Technology

Limited by the possible local building materials and low developed transform system in Senegal, the cultural centre is built by traditional construction technologies with the materials used in local dwellings.

Relation with Surroundings

Through analysing, the connection between new cultural centre is composed of following two portions :

Initially, a lion statuary, which is a symbolic symbol of Senegal is nearby the site. Via encircling the lion statuary, a small square without definite boundary will be generated by new cultural centre and statuary, where residents could celebrate traditional events.

The other consideration is that fortifying the relation between cultural centre and surroundings. By using discontinuous wall, the connection will be strengthened.

Rain Recycle System

The climate type of Sidious is arid climate, which means the evaporation is greatly higher than rainfall.

In this case, a simple and efficient rain recycle system is important for new cultural centre. The recycle system includes following three parts:

1. Roof Drain: by adjusting the slope of roof, people could gain rain as more as possible. 2. Slope Drain: surface water will be collected with the help of slope. 3. Water Channels: all water will be transported to cistern via water channels.

Building Section

The cultural centre's section originates from traditional African dwelling. By adopting and improving the traditional dwellings ‘design strategy, the cultural centre will adapt to the local climate, which could provide a comfortable shelter for residents.

Ambiguous

By using discontinuous wall, the space is divided into intermittent fragment, but the space is continues.

Centripetal

A fairground defined by the roof, where residents could organize different events and activities.

Borderless

There is not clear boundary to define inside and outside. The cultural centre is open to everyone.

1. Bamboo Lath 2. Bamboo Balk 3. Timber Pin 4. Bamboo Wedge 5. Lath Lat 6. Thatch Dekgras 7. Fire-retarding Membrane 8. Spray Layer Spreilaag 9. Reinforced Bamboo Splint 10. Rammed Earth Wall 11. Bamboo Cane 12. Rope 13. Reinforced concrete footing 14. Water Channel 15. Cement Screed-coat 16. Rammed Earth Flooring 17. Undisturbed Soil 18. Anchor Straps 19. Stone Foundation

Rammed Earth Wall Structure

The rammed earth wall is widely uesd in African dwellings for the reason that it could provide a comparatively comfortable environment for people with the most common materials locally.