A CRAFT COMPLEX IN SAPONE, BURKINA FASO

Located about thirty kilometers from the capital city of Ouagadougou, the town of Sapone is known for its conical hat made of straw and decorated with leather: the "Sapone-Zugpeogo", commonly called "Sapone hat". It is a craft jewel registered in the Burkinabe cultural heritage which makes the pride of the nationals of the locality. This craft product has become an emblem of Burkinabe culture and an instrument of pride. This hat symbolizes peace, tolerance and social cohesion, all things that take on more meaning in the security context that currently prevails in our states.
However, the absence of suitable frameworks for the manufacture of hats and the lack of organization compromises the opportunities that this sector offers for the artisans and for the entire community. The idea of establishing an artisanal complex in Sapone comes in this context as a support to the safeguarding of the cultural wealth of the "Moaga" people. Safeguarding efforts focus on encouraging artisans to continue production and to pass on their skills to others, especially within their community. The aim is to provide artisans with better working conditions and to strengthen the chain of intergenerational transmission while promoting the hat.

This craft complex must be a new place that brings together passionate artisans and a public seeking learning. It will therefore house, in a spirit of completeness, different spaces, capable of being the support of a rich and diversified cultural program. The accompanying architectural project seeks to create an emblematic building that explores history and focuses on heritage values, while echoing nature. It is intended to be a reference in terms of energy transition and aims to perpetuate the traditional construction method with a view to sustainable and harmonious development.

This center will have three main functions:
- The production function of "Zugpeogo" and other handicrafts ;
- The marketing function (exhibition and sale);
- The training or apprenticeship function.
In addition to these functions, there will be social spaces such as: animation, administration, catering, games and leisure, ... In this artisanal complex, the major traditional practices will be studied and transmitted from from generation to generation. The study of these cultural values will also allow for their conservation through archiving on written and/or digital media.

The present project, which consists of the proposal of an artisanal complex in Saponé, pursues an effort of sustainability in terms of design. Thus, several principles of architecture bioclimatic architecture have been used.
Bringing out the culture of Saponé and preserving the basic architecture of the locality are part of our challenges. Indeed, earthen construction is anchored in their local culture and defines the architectural identity of Burkina Faso. Thus we opted for BLT (cut laterite block) as the general material of the masonry. They are locally produced and are energy efficient.
We opted for a double-roofing system composed of a roof with large overhangs necessary for waterproofing and a false ceiling. Two types of roofing were planned, depending on the building. We have a fibrocement corrugated sheet roofing (with a metal frame), and a pre-painted aluminium sheet roofing (with a metal frame).

Software :
Archicad 22, Lumion 11, Adobe Photoshop 2020

Student :
KOMPAORE Raoul Christian Pingwende

Supervisor :
Dr PADENOU Guy-Hermann

A CRAFT COMPLEX IN SAPONE, BURKINA FASO by Raoul Kompaore in Burkina Faso won the WA Award Cycle 39. Please find below the WA Award poster for this project.