studio Bagamoyo

global perspectives edition 2O18 all editions

Parallel design studio Hasselt University (BE) – Ardhi University (TZ)

Bagamoyo is the silent witness of a rich history. German, Indian, Arabic and Swahili influences give this village her spatial identity and social diversity. Once the heart of Tanzania, Bagamoyo now is fading due to the lack of new economic opportunities.

The studio’s research-by-design projects present a wide and varied vision on Bagamoyo, reflecting upon 3 themes: Heritage – existing buildings, new activities / Culture – existing activities, new volumes / Economy – new activities, new volumes, and starting from Bagamoyo's human and natural riches.

A JOURNEY ALONG (HI)STORIES

Bjarne De Prins
A spatial experience that celebrates freedom

In a Journey Along (hi)stories the ruins of the Old Customs house embrace a new wooden tower that holds the contentious story of slave trade and makes the contrast between being imprisoned and freedom tangible in a contemplative view over the Indian ocean
Keywords: adaptive reuse, Old Custom's house, slave trade, museum, wood, tower, cross-ventilation

MATERIAL BANK

Philip Vliegen
Outdated buildings as material resource for urban renewal
Introducing the concept of circularity, Material Bank (re)stores Bagamoyo’s worn out buildings’ materials and components to reuse them in the future Bagamoyo


Keywords: circular, building materials, heritage, reuse

GROWING GOLD

Brecht Sommen
Bamboo, a growing and sustainable economy for Bagamoyo (and beyond)
In Growing Gold bamboo is the starting point of new economic activities in Bagamoyo, while at the same time highlighting its identity as an ambassador of sustainability.


Keywords: sustainability, bamboo, DIY, economy, green identity, botanical garden
more A journey
Throughout most of its history, Bagamoyo has been a terminus of trade routes on the east African coast, a gateway to the port of Zanzibar. With Zanzibar’s demand for ivory and slaves, Bagamoyo’s Old Customs house became the mainland departure point where the slaves were gathered from inland to be deported to Zanzibar, sold and ushered into a life of servitude.
A journey along (hi)stories restores the sealink with Zanzibar and completes the story of the Slave Market with a spatial intervention in the Old Customs house, making the contrast between being imprisoned and freedom tangible. The project is about bringing a message of peace and respect to all people, condemning all forms of enslavery.. The ruins of the south wing embrace the new tower that holds the story of the slaves. The rooftop terrace alienates the visitor from the site and leaves them with a vast and lonely view over the sea, a moment of reflection: ‘where are we going from here?’. The enclosed outdoor space becomes a garden of thoughts, a place where people can come together and unwind.
By taking a dhow to Zanzibar, the journey into history continues, this time with the message of the Custom’s House in mind.
more Material bank
The streetscapes of the old town of Bagamoyo are characterized by empty, often deteriorated buildings, sometimes reduced to a few walls, overwon by nature but always reminding us of their former beauty and grandeur. All these ‘forgotten’ buildings leave us with a treasury of interesting materials and valuable building components.
Introducing the concept of circularity, Material Bank Bagamoyo collects all these valuable materials and components. It restores and upcycles them if necessary, and so making them available for new building projects. The city can ‘revive’ itself, build its future self without losing its DNA.
Material Bank Bagamoyo is designed as a filling cabinet/a rack ofbuilding materials, embracing the central workplace. In the shade of the eucalyptus trees, the craftsmen give a second life to Bagamoyo’s heritage and past.


more Growing gold
Bamboo, also referred to as green gold, can be grown in Tanzania and Bagamayo. The product has great potential and is very sustainable as well, due to its ability to reduce the CO2 emission and the managing of the whole production cycle without waste materials. ‘Growing Gold’ brings economy to Bagamoyo, not only by growing and processing bamboo but also as a catalyst for various (new) local shops that will benefit from its possibilities for construction, furniture, clothes, energy (charcoal, biomass),… In future, the bamboo production can provide for cities like Dar es Salaam as well.Just outside the city centre, the Bamboo plant will continue the walk along Bagamoyo’s important heritage buildings and new infrastructure: the hospital, the fish market, the Old Customs House, the botanical garden, the Old Fort, TASUBA art school… and strengthening the green ribbon along the Indian ocean.
The processing centre can be built by local craftsmen, thus experiencing and showing the beauty of working with this sustainable material. Workshops, demonstrations and info sessions bring the versatility of bamboo as a resource for daily use products to the visitors.
Growing Gold can be the starting point of new economic activities in Bagamoyo, while at the same time highlighting its identity as an ambassador of sustainability.
overview 2018 bagamoyo.pptx
team
studio team Hasselt University: arch. Peggy Winkels, arch. Nicolas Coeckelberghs
studio team Ardhi University: dr. Daniel Mbisso, dr. Shubira Kalugila, arch. Yvonne Matinyi
related research teams: Arck Sustainability Research team, prof. dr. ir. arch. Griet Verbeeck
advisory team: prof. emeritus arch. Han Verschure, prof. Ir. Rob Cuyvers, prof. dr. arch. Els Hannes, prof. dr. ir. arch. Griet Verbeeck, arch. Olivier de Schaetzen