The Nonprofit Organization Balouo Salo has announced new International Competition in collaboration with University of Tokyo, Kengo Kuma & Associates, CNAPPC, Embassy and Consulate of Senegal, Sedhiou Government, the City of Tanaf and others. 

Named Kaira Looro Competition - Sacred Architecture, the competition will be developed as project theme and will be the architectural celebration of the cult philosophy in a remote place on earth, where the shortage of materials and high-performing technology pushes the architecture to the branch of sustainability and integration with landscape and culture. 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 competition is a tribute to the sacredness in a remote place of the earth. 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 sponsors like Four Points by Sheraton Catania will provide cash prizes for the winning projects. These will be named by an internationally renowned jury made up of: Kengo Kuma, Ko Nakamura (University of Tokyo), A. Ghirardelli (SBGA ), A. Muzzonigro (Stefano Boeri Architects), R. Bouman (Mohn + Bouman Architects) C. Chiarelli (Arcò), A. Ferrara (Juri Troy Architects), Pilar Diez Rodriguez, R. Kasik (X Architekten), S. D'Urso (University of Catania), I. Gomis (Tanaf Mayor), I. Lutri (InArch), W. Baricchi (CNAPPC).

The competition will select projects to be awarded for the 1st , 2nd and 3rd place and also 5 mentions and 10 finalists. The winning project will receive a cash prize and an internship in the Kengo Kuma architectural studio in Tokyo, as well as publications, exhibitions and articles. The competition is open to architects, designers, engineers and students. It’s possible to participate as a team or individually.

''Design an architecture for worship does not mean just offer a new identity to the territory, but also gives substance to a culture, becoming interpreters of his spirituality with lightness and elegance. The Sacred architecture will have to tell the spirituality with a surprising design that can be at the same time integrated with the contest, creating an architecture that can become a symbol for the whole country, making a humble mark on the landscape,'' states the competition.

The goal of the contest is to create a symbolic sacred architecture for the whole nation which can improve the precarious conditions of the project area. All proceeds, derived from membership contributions of the participants, will be donated to the humanitarian project 'A Bridge for Life' in Senegal, to save 80,000 people now at risk of survival. 

The winning design will be given to the organization Balouo Salo who donates it to the community of Tanaf, which can make it in self or in collaboration with religious bodies, institutions or NGOs. The same organization Balouo Salo does not preclude the possibility to adopt this draft as a charity project for the future reserving the possibility of involving the winners during the work. The winning projects will also be presented to the great Marabout of sub-Saharan.

International Jury for Kaira Looro International Competition for Sacred Architecture

The contest will officially open in January 2017 and will follow this schedule: 

Early registration: from 20 January to 13 February 2017 

Normal registration: from 14 February to 10 March 2017 

Late registration: 11 March to 2 April, 2017 

Competitions deadline:April 23 , 2017 

Winners announced: 14 May 2017 

To enter the contest, participants have just to fill out the registration form in the official website.

Application fees include early registration - 60€/team, normal registration - 90€/team and late registration - 120€/team. You can download the competition brief here, see Awards and application procedures in detail.

All images courtesy of Kaira Looro International Competition

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