- Title: Senegalese university wins prestigious architecture prize
- Date: 18th September 2019
- Summary: BAMBEY, SENEGAL (RECENT) (REUTERS) AERIAL SHOT OF ALIOUNE DIOP UNIVERSITY VARIOUS OF ALIOUNE DIOP UNIVERSITY INSIDE CLASS ROOM STUDENTS LEAVING CLASSROOM STUDENTS CROSS EXTERIOR WALKWAY EXTERIOR OF NEW EXTENSION BUILDING CANTILEVERED ROOF (SOUNDBITE) (French) SIDY CAMARA, DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENT AND SECURITY, ALIOUNE DIOP UNIVERSITY, SAYING: "We are in front of a smart building that allows us to be energy self-sufficient, which is good in our countries if we know that we are paying in terms of energy consumption. The management of the water and its acidity is something very important. Today the water of the building is recovered in the basins which are filtered, and which allows to water the plants, while even the water of the air conditioning is recovered at the level of these basins, and that is a major innovation." KAZAN, TARTARSTAN, RUSSIA (SEPTEMBER 13, 2019) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF NATIONAL THEATRE IN KAZAN, WHERE THE AGA KHAN AWARD FOR ARCHITECTURE IS BEING PRESENTED INTERIOR OF NATIONAL THEATRE IN KAZAN, TARTARSTAN HIS HIGHNESS THE AGA KHAN TOGETHER WITH THE PRESIDENT OF TARTARSTAN, RUSTAM MINNIKHANOV ON STAGE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ALIOUNE DIOP UNIVERITY COLLECTING PRIZE/ POSING FOR PHOTOS (SOUNDBITE) (English) IBRAHIM WONE, CHIEF OF CABINET, MINISTRY OF HIGHER EDUCATION, SENEGAL SAYING: "This win can have a great impact in Senegal and in Africa because the building was created by environmental -- taking some local realities temperature, etc. - it's a big one that can have a big impact on Senegal and in Africa and it can be replicated everywhere." (SOUNDBITE) (French) MAHY DIAW, DIRECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY ALIOUNE DIOP DE BAMBEY, SAYING: "Most students often complete their education in Dakar, but now they have the opportunity to do so locally, as you said, in a building that has temperature control. One should be aware that in this particular town, temperatures are around 35 degrees, with this building they have the opportunity to study in a building which can be varied by around 15 degrees to make it more comfortable than other buildings." BAMBEY, SENEGAL (RECENT) (REUTERS) OUTSIDE SPECIALISED CLADDING OF THE ALIOUNE DIOP UNIVERSITY, BAMBEY EXTERIOR INSULATING LAYER BUILDING EXTERIOR
- Embargoed: 2nd October 2019 14:50
- Keywords: Aga Khan Award for Architecture award Alioune Diop University Teaching and Research Unit buildings architecture
- Location: BAMBEY, SENEGAL/ KAZAN, RUSSIA
- City: BAMBEY, SENEGAL/ KAZAN, RUSSIA
- Country: Senegal
- Topics: Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA001AX6QCLZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The Aga Khan Award for Architecture recently honored architects and designers across the globe, who've set new standards of excellence in architecture across the globe.
Among the 2019 winners was the Alioune Diop University Teaching and Research Unit in Bambey, Senegal which shares a joint award with 5 other structures.
The university was founded in 2007 as part of the government's efforts to decentralize education and encourage youth to stay in rural areas.
The institution was functioning beyond capacity by 2012, so an extension project was launched, which formed the major part of this building.
Like in parts of Africa, the environment around Bambey has been hit by climate change.
Scarcity of resources led to the use of bioclimatic strategies, in the project, including a large double roof canopy and latticework that avoids direct solar radiation but allows air to flow through it.
The building prides itself on sustainability and cutting running costs as well as slowing down migration to urban areas.
By employing locally familiar construction techniques and following sustainability principles, while making a bold architectural statement.
The structure has a 500-seat lecture hall, five 50-student classrooms, eight 100-student classrooms, three laboratories and two meeting rooms.
"We are in front of a smart building that allows us to be energy self-sufficient, which is good in our countries if we acknowledge that we are paying in terms of energy consumption. The management of the water and its acidity is something very important. Today the water of the building is recovered in the basins which are filtered, and which allows to water the plants, while even the water of the air conditioning is recovered at the level of these basins, and that is a major innovation," said Sidy Camara, the director of environment and security at the University.
The prestigious architectural award is held once every three years and attracts entries from compelling structures across the globe.
Awards were presented by His Highness the Aga Khan at a ceremony in Kazan, Russia.
Winners will share a 1 million US dollar prize.
"This win can have a great impact in Senegal and in Africa because the building was created by environmental -- taking some local realities temperature, etc. - it's a big one that can have a big impact on Senegal and in Africa and it can be replicated everywhere," said Ibrahim Wone, chief of cabinet, at the ministry of higher education in Senegal.
"Most students often complete their education in Dakar, but now they have the opportunity to do so locally, as you said, in a building that has temperature control. One should be aware that in this particular town, temperatures are around 35 degrees, with this building they have the opportunity to study in a building which can be varied by around 15 degrees to make it more comfortable than other buildings," said Mahy Diaw, the director at the University.
Unlike the University's pre-existing small, scattered blocks, a slanting roof on the new extension soars to almost 10 meters on the north side protecting students from the heat of the sun.
The building's lattice wall, is made of perforated breezeblocks manufactured on site by local masons, which forms the cooling system.
A broad corridor separates this from the accommodation behind, lowering temperatures inside.
(Donna Omulo, Richard Duebel) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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