A national symbol for the spirituality of Senegal. Introspection, spirituality, and divinity. These are the elements around which the sacred architecture revolves. The light and the lightness of the materials join sacred and profane, creating an architecture that, through spaces and forms, try to invite humans to an introspective research. The competition is open to architects, designers, engineers, and students. It’s possible to participate as a team or individually.
Theme
Kaira Looro are two words in Mandinga language, the main culture in Tanaf. The greetings of welcome or farewell, are not simple greetings of “good morning” or “good evening”, but they are real good wishes and prayers for the peace of others. Often people greet each other “Alma kaira siyaa laa”, or that “God will give you peace.” Kaira Looro, that in Mandingo language means “Architecture for Peace”, is not just architecture, but it also represents the link to a culture, a spirituality and research of interiority. The challenge is to celebrate this cult philosophy by designing a sustainable and culturally-driven architecture, for a place with a lack of materials and with low technology. To design place of worship means creating a new landmark, but also giving substance to a culture of a community, being lightweight and graceful to understand its spirituality. This competition has to show and describe the theme thanks to an impressive design also being integrated and able to become a symbol for all the country. Carefully included into the landscape, it will represent the conjunction between earthly and divine.
