Laurent Sechaud
The market's layout is quite simple and regular. Two orthogonal grids define the alleys and the small gathering places. Central Market, Koudougou, Burkina Faso.
Laurent Sechaud
On a construction level, the innovative use of compressed earth blocks was intended to demonstrate the aesthetic and environmental potential of the local material. Central Market, Koudougou, Burkina Faso.
Amir-Massoud Anoushfar
The choice of the structural system of dome-shaped roofs was dictated by the need for longer spans to accommodate the use of tables and stools in the stalls and allow free and easy circulation. Central Market, Koudougou, Burkina Faso.
Amir-Massoud Anoushfar
The grid of the market is interrupted by the stalls zone, which has been conceived as an open vaulted space, supported by a series of high arches that permit a visual continuity. Central Market, Koudougou, Burkina Faso.
Amir-Massoud Anoushfar
In the stalls zone, a series of arches support dome-shaped roofs. Central Market, Koudougou, Burkina Faso.
Laurent Sechaud
The detailed architectural project was adopted after the construction of a 1:1 prototype of a retail shop. Central Market, Koudougou, Burkina Faso.
Laurent Sechaud
The organisation of the Central market allows for good air-circulation and gives every building the benefit of shade provided by other constructions. Central Market, Koudougou, Burkina Faso.
Amir-Massoud Anoushfar
The main objective was to use the compressed earth blocks not only for walls but also for roofs. Central Market, Koudougou, Burkina Faso.
Laurent Sechaud
A large number of stalls are occupied by vegetable vendors. Central Market, Koudougou, Burkina Faso.
Amir-Massoud Anoushfar
The first step was to choose the site for the new market: the site of the original market or another site situated in a commercial and administrative zone. The first option was retained. Central Market, Koudougou, Burkina Faso.
Laurent Sechaud
The market is enclosed by the shop buildings around the periphery and by gates that are locked at night. Central Market, Koudougou, Burkina Faso.
Amir-Massoud Anoushfar
The market is bordered on two sides by car parks, or more exactly motorcycle parks. Central Market, Koudougou, Burkina Faso.
Amir-Massoud Anoushfar
Shops around the periphery can stay open beyond the general opening hours, animating the city centre even when the Central market is closed. Central Market, Koudougou, Burkina Faso.
Amir-Massoud Anoushfar
A major innovation was the introduction of counterweighted top-hinged doors, which cover the whole shop front when closed and form a canopy over the street when open. Central Market, Koudougou, Burkina Faso.
Amir-Massoud Anoushfar
Being labour-intensive, this project generated more jobs than a construction in concrete. The raw material was extracted by locals and blocks were made on site. Central Market, Koudougou, Burkina Faso.
Amir-Massoud Anoushfar
For use of maintenance, corrugated metal sheets were used to reduce the vulnerability of the earth roofs and domes and make them more waterproof. Central Market, Koudougou, Burkina Faso.
Amir-Massoud Anoushfar
At the scale of the city, the Central Market was expected to enhance the urban fabric and strengthen the commercial vocation of the neighbourhood. Central Market, Koudougou, Burkina Faso.
Amir-Massoud Anoushfar
Central Market, Koudougou, Burkina Faso.
Amir-Massoud Anoushfar
Master plan. Central Market, Koudougou, Burkina Faso.
AKTC
Shops, section north-south. Central Market, Koudougou, Burkina Faso.
AKTC
Stalls, section north-south. Central Market, Koudougou, Burkina Faso.
AKTC
Shops plan. Central Market, Koudougou, Burkina Faso.
AKTC
Shops façade. Central Market, Koudougou, Burkina Faso.
AKTC
Shops elevation. Central Market, Koudougou, Burkina Faso.
AKTC
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Award Cycle: 2005-2007 Cycle
Status: Award Recipient
Country of origin: Burkina Faso
Location: Koudougou, Burkina Faso
Client: Koudougou Municipality
Architect: Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
Size: 29'000 m²
Completed: 2005
The impact of Koudougou’s Central Market is twofold: at the urban scale, it reinforces and enhances the fabric of a mid-sized town, providing a monumental civic space for commercial and social exchange. On the level of construction, it introduces simple and easily assimilated improvements to a traditional material - stabilised earth - which allow it to achieve its full aesthetic and environmental potential. By using blocks of compressed earth, the market not only emonstrates the superior climactic performance of the local building material, but also shows how humble earth blocks can be used to create a sophisticated pattern language of vaults, domes and arches.
The market is the third of its type to be built under the direction of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in cooperation with the Programme de Développement des Villes Moyennes of the Burkina Faso government, which aims to strengthen the country’s mid-sized towns through building commercial infrastructures. The market was the result of a process that brought together and engaged the entire community in the site selection, design and construction of the market as well as its continuing use. A 1:1 prototype of a typical retail space was constructed which helped facilitate communication between the different collaborators, simultaneously allowing refinement of the design, development of innovative construction techniques and practical training of the local masons.