Project info
- Location: Sierra Leone
- Year: 2012 - 2017
- Client: React
- Size: 250 m2
- Collaborators: React, Danmarks Tekniske Universitet - DTU.
- Financing: Café Retro, Statens Kunstfond, Merkur Bank mfl.
- Project team: Carina Nissen, Wiebke Engels
- Contact: [email protected]
As the lead architects behind the MECC, Architects Without Borders Denmark established a collaboration with the NGO, React, to design and build a new learning facility located in Magburaka, Sierra Leone. The building includes various educational spaces for IT alongside an internet café. It furthermore includes large, open spaces, intended as a community center that provides the opportunity for larger events for the local community, including courses. The building furthermore demonstrates environmental sustainability with solar panels covering the roof structure as an alternative source for electricity. This feature attracts particularly the youth in the area, as it gives them the opportunity to study at nightfall. The building is built of low-energy consuming soil blocks as an extension of the local library and thereby challenges the traditional techniques characteristic to the area.
DEVELOPMENT TARGETS
- To help improve educational standards in Sierra Leone and provide access to information through WIFI accessibility.
- Capacity building of local labor through collaborations with local artisans. The construction process also functions as training, internships through weekly construction meetings and sparring.
For more information, please visit www.facebook.com/BuildingMECC.
