Nigerian architect Tosin Oshinowo curated a major exhibition in the United Arab Emirates titled “The Beauty of Impermanence: An Architecture of Adaptability.” She wanted to look at how regions such as Africa are able to function with scarce resources. “I think ultimately the big elephant in the room for most of us is climate change,” said Ms Oshinowo. Designers from 26 countries were invited to come up with works to address the issue of scarcity.
For Ethiopian designer Miriam Hillawi Abraham, this meant building what looked like a church out of salt. She called the work “Museum of Artifice,” similar to Ethiopia’s famous rock-hewn churches in Lalibela. This is at more than 330ft (100m) below sea level, and arguably the hottest place on Earth. Largely abandoned now, these buildings are made out of blocks cut from the nearby salt lakes. Ms Miriam’s structure, made from pink Himalayan salt, will erode without regular maintenance.
Another work was by Hive Earth Studio, a Ghanaian architecture firm that specializes in rammed earth. It was called Eta’dan, meaning “mud wall” in Ghana’s Fante language – and the soil was sourced in the UAE to reduce the environmental impact of transporting materials. Hive Earth’s ethos is to learn from the past to create buildings for the present, seeking sustainability and a pleasing aesthetic.
Ghana-based design duo Dominique Petit-Frère and Emil Grip tackled the potential of unfinished building projects, which are prevalent in West Africa. Known as “Limbo Accra”, the pair transformed a derelict shopping mall into an inviting space. They artfully draped strips of white calico cotton fabric across the entrance.
The work, “Super Limbo” was a nod to Bedouin culture and their desert tents.
Architects Papa Omotayo and Eve Nnaji took inspiration from the potted plants and bird cages they spotted being tended by mechanics in an industrial area of Sharjah. Their three-storey structure “We Rest at the Birds Nest” was made from scaffolding and organic waste, providing a sanctuary for both birds and workers. Metal steps led up to platforms decorated with vegetation, while rows of 2,000 biodegradable cardboard nests lined an atrium that descended from the open rooftop to the ground. Passageway windows allowed a view into the birds’ haven.
“As architects we tend to stay focused on people, but we share this planet,” Ms Oshinowo said. “When we start to think about accommodating other species, it’s also a very powerful narrative.”
Ms Oshinowo hopes the exhibition gave those attending an opportunity to pause and reflect on sustainability and design.
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Subsaharan Africa definitely has a rich architectural tradition!