CIGC – Internationales Konferenzzentrum Ougadougou (Centre International de Grandes Conférences)
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
The international conference centre CIGC (Centre International de Grandes Conférences ) is located in the south of the new urban district "Ouaga 2000", about 10 km from the airport and and south of the historic centre of Ougadougou.
The project will be representative and innovative at the very same time because the building and the surrounding parks are symbolic for a contemporary architecture that responds to the economic reality of the place and preserves tradition, cultural and the artisanal potential of the inhabitants of this fast growing and intensively developing city of Ougadougou.
The site of the international conference centre is located in the middle of a public park, which is 270 hectares large. Here you can find a botanical garden with a museum, a zoo, sports grounds and picnic places. But the parc is not only a very attractive and popular meeting point but also a "green lung" which provides fresh air for the whole city.
The conference centre is located in the heart of the parc and is surrounded by different vegetation zones. Elliptic paths and alleys structure the planting and lead to the entrance of the conference centre. All areas of the conference centre are located under one huge oval roof, which repeats the form of the oval paths and alleys in the surrounding park.
The conference hall, the VIP-block, the festival hall and the technical services are disposed loosely around an inner courtyard with expanse of water, hold together by the big roof. The silhouette of the roof follows in height and dimensions the demands of the different areas and the loose disposal creates spaces which react very flexible to the demands of each. A system of columns is carrying the roof and at the same time defining outer areas like canopied parking and exhibition areas. Finally the different areas of the interior space are completed by random openings in the roofs, where small gardens are situated close by, to provide nice views and fresh air.
According to all principles of a sustainable development, local materials such as "laterite" are favoured. This stone can be obtained nearby and is preferred for its durability and for its insulation characteristics. Laterite stone covers the whole façade of the international conference centre and repels the heat at its point of emergence which supports natural climatisation. The stone with its nice colourings accords to the building a welcoming atmosphere altogether with very regional characteristics.
The site of the international conference centre is located in the middle of a public park, which is 270 hectares large. Here you can find a botanical garden with a museum, a zoo, sports grounds and picnic places. But the parc is not only a very attractive and popular meeting point but also a "green lung" which provides fresh air for the whole city.
The conference centre is located in the heart of the parc and is surrounded by different vegetation zones. Elliptic paths and alleys structure the planting and lead to the entrance of the conference centre. All areas of the conference centre are located under one huge oval roof, which repeats the form of the oval paths and alleys in the surrounding park.
The conference hall, the VIP-block, the festival hall and the technical services are disposed loosely around an inner courtyard with expanse of water, hold together by the big roof. The silhouette of the roof follows in height and dimensions the demands of the different areas and the loose disposal creates spaces which react very flexible to the demands of each. A system of columns is carrying the roof and at the same time defining outer areas like canopied parking and exhibition areas. Finally the different areas of the interior space are completed by random openings in the roofs, where small gardens are situated close by, to provide nice views and fresh air.
According to all principles of a sustainable development, local materials such as "laterite" are favoured. This stone can be obtained nearby and is preferred for its durability and for its insulation characteristics. Laterite stone covers the whole façade of the international conference centre and repels the heat at its point of emergence which supports natural climatisation. The stone with its nice colourings accords to the building a welcoming atmosphere altogether with very regional characteristics.