Youth Center In Niafourang / Project Niafourang

Youth Center In Niafourang / Project Niafourang - Beam, WindowsYouth Center In Niafourang / Project Niafourang - WindowsYouth Center In Niafourang / Project Niafourang - Windows, BeamYouth Center In Niafourang / Project Niafourang - WindowsYouth Center In Niafourang / Project Niafourang - More Images+ 14

Text description provided by the architects. In the fall of 2011 Project Niafourang travelled to Niafourang, a small coastal village in the Casamance region of Senegal. The population of Niafourang is around 300 inhabitants; the village is very poor with a high unemployment rate. Hilde Huus-Hansen leads a non-profit organization; Friends of Niafourang, that works to improve conditions for local youth and create job opportunities in the village.

Youth Center In Niafourang / Project Niafourang - Windows
Courtesy of Project Niafourang

December 2010 Hilde got in touch with three architecture students from NTNU. She was looking to build a Youth Center in Niafourang that would include a computer room/library and a larger multi-purpose room. The intention was to create opportunities, jobs and development in the village. An important aspect of the project was to involve the local community in both the building and planning stages, in order to create a sense of ownership and pride in the resulting building.

Youth Center In Niafourang / Project Niafourang - Beam
Courtesy of Project Niafourang

Work started shortly after arrival in Niafourang and lasted an intense 10 weeks. There is no electricity in the village so apart from the use of a battery powered drill, no electrical devices where used. There was great enthusiasm surrounding the project and the entire village partook in volunteer work. This was entirely essential for the completion of the building in the limited timeframe and very important for the buildings future.

Youth Center In Niafourang / Project Niafourang - Windows
Courtesy of Project Niafourang

The walls are built using blocks of compressed sand and a small amount of cement. The blocks were hand-pressed using a local machine with sand shoveled from a nearby ditch. Windows are positioned low on the walls with deep frames, so they can be used to sit in. Steel brackets were custom welded in a nearby village and hold the roof construction. The corrugated aluminum roof juts out beyond the walls to prevent rain from entering the building and creates shady areas to relax.

elevation 01

Underneath the protruding roof, a concrete belt surrounds the building creating a shady platform. The roof extends to include a second floor outside the walls of the multi-purpose room. The second floor is accessible by an outdoor ladder and functions as an extension of the library/computer room or the multi-purpose room. Angled wood planks serve as blinds, preventing both rain and direct sunlight.

elevation 02

The Youth Center is already in use and will hopefully contribute to positive development in Niafourang. We hope the 10 week long building and planning process has left the local community as inspired as it has left us.

Youth Center In Niafourang / Project Niafourang - Beam, Deck
Courtesy of Project Niafourang

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Project location

Address:Niafourang, Senegal

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Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
About this office
Cite: "Youth Center In Niafourang / Project Niafourang" 16 Mar 2012. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/217208/youth-center-in-niafourang-project-niafourang> ISSN 0719-8884

Courtesy of Project Niafourang

Niafourang青少年活动中心 / Project Niafourang

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