Architecture in Ivory Coast - Back to the future

After independence, many young West African states needed to build government premises, banks and universities. They brought architects from abroad for the task because of a lack of Ivorian architects. French architect Henri Chomette designed many key buildings and bridges in Ivory Coast, Senegal and Burkina Faso. This is the town hall in Abidjan's Plateau district, erected in 1956.

The Hotel Ivoire remains one of the most recognizable buildings in Abidjan. It is the only five-star hotel and conference center in the economic capital. Construction of the building began in 1963 and it was designed by the Israeli architects Heinz Fenchel und Thomas Leitersdorf.

"World-class architecture was built in West Africa during the 1960s and 70s," said German architect Manuel Herz. "Everyone wanted to keep up with Europe and the US." The designs were particularly bold like the "Pyramids" in Abijan, designed by Italian Rinaldo Olivieri and built between 1968 and 1973. The one-time shopping center now stands empty.

During the economic and political crises that hit the country prior to 2012, the government neglected any regulation of the building sector. The result was that structures were built without the proper permits and without architects. The result is a chaotic cityscape full of unsafe building, many of which have collapsed during the rainy season.

The peaceful election in 2015 that brought President Alassane Ouattara to power was taken as a sign to investors that the Ivory Coast is back. Soon after, the government put forward its development plans until 2020. This means more hospitals, bridges and apartment buildings. The construction sector is now booming and the country is in need of architects.

The head of the first architect school in Abidjan studied outside of the country and will help train the first 20 Ivorian architects. There is a critical shortage of architects in the Ivory Coast with only 177 registered architects in a country of 23 million people.

The students not only have to learn about the technical side of architecture and design but also the cultural history of their country. They take field trips to see traditional building processes and materials. "We no longer want to copy the West," said one student. "Our Ivorian culture must be reflected in modern design."

Issa Diabate is a well-known architect in the Ivory Coast. He studied in the US and is known around the world as an expert in African urban development. "How do we want to live in 20 years? How will our society change? We have to ask these questions now," he said. He sees the architects in the Ivory Coast not just as designers but also as city developers.

The latest project of the architecture firm Koffi & Diabate is 32 apartments with underground parking. When the trees and shrubs around the building grow, they will create natural shade for walkways and benches. However the development will only attract those with the means to afford its price tag. Their next project is to build a mixed-income neighborhood.

"Building locally does not mean to merely adorn buildings with examples of African culture but to integrate it into the functionality of the inside of a building," explained Diabate. Here he designed walls made of bamboo to provide both shade and circulation. Large sliding doors allow for maximum air flow.

We used to build churches with stone like the European missionaries did. But that means that our old churches are very hot," explained Father Richard Ehounou. The new catholic church in Assinie is made out of Ivorian wood. It boasts a corrugated roof with sufficient openings for circulation without the need for air conditioning or fans. Author: Susan Bavier