A MONUMENT TO FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

Project idea

The project consists of the rehabilitation of the popular theater Désiré BONOGO. The main goal of the project is to design a sustainable architecture that fosters a place of harmony offering diverse experiences where theatre and many other arts can be taught and expressed.

Project description

The design is inspired by the traditional gatherings of African communities, so space can accommodate many activities such as storytelling, dance, theatre, and drumming by a single artist or group of artists. While taking into account the requests of the program for the rehabilitation. The strategy of the design process is to combine the interior and exterior functions into a unifying and modular whole allowing the passage of light and air in a sustainable manner with large openings. This is possible by dividing into a grid frame all spaces and connect them to each other. Which generates a fluid movement and creates a promenade. The distribution of volumes is organized so that the functions are independent, yet part of a common system.

Technical information

The structure of the different buildings and their simple realization is coherent with the use of locally sourced materials, such as clay bricks, wood, concrete, conformingly with the surrounding architecture in Ouagadougou.