Aging in Africa / HWKN
HWKN has completed their schematic design phase for their recent project, Aging in Africa, which will move toward construction in the beginning of next year. The project, a retirement community for Catholic priests, (who are excluded from the traditional, family based, model of elder care in Cote D’Ivoire), will be the first age-valued community on the African continent. This simplistic approach to housing will create an environment which is well-suited for the users-where the elderly will be safe and comfortable, and continue to maintain a meaningful and healthy lifestyle.
More about the project after the break.
The project is specifically geared toward the users, and deploy a holistic set of social, economic and environmentally sustainable theories pertaining to elder living and care. ”It is about architecture that does not just house caring, it is architecture as the caring device. Our hope is that it is an inspiration for a new breed of community that values the efficacy of spirit over efficiency of care,” explained the architects.
Situated between the Atlantic and an inland lagoon, the project is organized like a typical Cote D’Ivoire village around a central spine which stretches North/South from existing streets to capture the site’s prevailing winds. Perforations along the perimeter let the natural vegetation grow into the village and capitalize on the stunning views towards the water.
The single story residential buildings frame the village’s spine whereas the more public buildings are centered on the village axis to reinforce their communal function. Based on simple geometries, the building shapes tilt and fold in relationship to each other, yet with an individual expression.
The peaks of the church employ a simple geometry that yields an iconic form that is at once a novel and familiar type of sacred space.
AGING IN AFRICA
LOCATION: Lagoon Aby, Cote D’Ivoire
ARCHITECT: HOLLWICHKUSHNER, LLC (HWKN)
AGING EXPERT: Emi Kiyota
CLIENT: Foundation Saint Joseph d’Arimathie
SCOPE: Concept Design, Schematic Design, Design Development.
STATUS: Schematic Design Completed Fall 2009; Start construction scheduled beginning of 2011
PROJECT TEAM: Matthias Hollwich, Marc Kushner, Robert May, Marc Perrotta, and KimByung Kyun
Wow, somthing refreshing between a lot pretentious architecture
OK, nice building, shape, volume. But, I don’t have anything with thy culture, acctualy I relly admire it, but my question is. Those buildings are made more for us, architects, not for traditionalist african people. And I’m saing again, I’n not against african people, and I don’t underestimadet their culture and knowledges. Maybe is just my opinion.
@R.Goldschmidt: What do you know about traditionalist African people? Have you been to Ivory Coast? If not, please take a Google earth tour of Ivory Coast and Nairobi.
@Patrick: Sorry, maybe I made my self miss understand. I try to say that it will be nice if they integrate in their project some thing from african culture. Like Constantin Brancusi take the romanian culture and made modern sculpture. Don’t be upset Patrick. This is what I really has to say.
the project looks unfinished or more like that it hasnt been started. like someone threw all the elements in a box and threw them out again on a site resulting in wonky shapes that have no coherence. anyfirst year student could have designed this. it really is a joke. it looks like the architects designed this to bump up their profile for ‘innovative design in africa’ just becuase they could, then to truly respond to a site and a brief which is an incredible opportunity to do something worthwhile. unbelievable…
there’s the little black drawing that explains the dynamism of the shapes
and what dynamism is there besides pulling a few control points to the left? is it to help cool the space better? or shade the facade? what exactly is it doing besides play with archetypal profiles???
Is the project taking or refereeing constructive methods from the Cote D’Ivoire culture? If so, I admire initiatives that transform the rules but always from the knowledge of side-culture.
I liked! Nice drawings!
please don’t
looks awsome…looks african…I like it a lot
12:05 AM Mar 11th
RT @archdaily: Aging in Africa by HWKN http://archdai.ly/dpgGWK #architecture #africa
12:41 AM Mar 11th
Aging in Africa / HWKN:
HWKN has completed their schematic design phase for their recent project, Aging in Afr.. http://tinyurl.com/yl58m64
12:47 AM Mar 11th
RT @ArchitecPassion: Aging in Africa / HWKN:
HWKN has completed their schematic design phase for their recent project, Aging in Afr.. http://tinyurl.com/yl58m64
7:42 AM Mar 11th
Aging in Africa / HWKN http://bit.ly/agfddw