Snohetta has unveiled the masterplan to create a modern campus for the University of The Gambia, which will provide higher level education for over 15,000 students of The Gambia. The campus will integrate three of The Gambia’s existing formal institutions into the university campus. Apart from educational experience the architecture firm also wants the project to reflect environmental conservation by re-inventing the established western conventions.
In addition to designing with the educational experience in mind, Snohetta also want the project to set new environmental standards. Part of this plan involves a solar park for generating energy, a waste management center and locally done water harvesting.
From the architects:
‘The new University of The Gambia is to be relocated and established as a new institution consisting of the four existing formal institutions of higher education in The Gambia. At the present there are three colleges and one university in The Gambia. The masterplan project seeks to relocate and integrate the four institutions into one, to make a new, fully integrated University of The Gambia for 15.000 students. The project was initiated by the President of The Gambia.
The masterplan prepares the groundwork to be able to meet the flexible campus design which is based on a ‘modular’ faculty building that has the flexibility to program and education. the campus ‘green river’ bind the faculties and ties back to the Faraba Banta and prepares for the new urban development.
The new campus will set a standard environmental issues in The Gambia, the establishment of a solar park to make energy, a power plant to take responsibility for waste management locally, the campus area will set a new standard and the environmental profile will be important as educational investments in the students that will be the future leaders educated at the UTG.
To design a new campus on a site that has almost no infrastructure, has been a challenge. There are different directions for campus planning, but most are examples from western campuses. For Snohetta it has been important to find a way to make a Gambian Campus and to bring elements from the Gambian traditions to a new expression. Through analysis of the traditional Gambian settlements and landscapes, we have found an important inspiration to find the direction for this project. Through this analysis, Snohetta has found three strong elements that have been important for development the design for the campus masterplan; the green structure, the African fractal as components for the faculty buildings and the out door meeting places set in an hierarchy through ‘Bantabas’, ‘compounds’ and atriums.’
Further information: www.snohetta.com
In addition to designing with the educational experience in mind, Snohetta also want the project to set new environmental standards. Part of this plan involves a solar park for generating energy, a waste management center and locally done water harvesting.
From the architects:
‘The new University of The Gambia is to be relocated and established as a new institution consisting of the four existing formal institutions of higher education in The Gambia. At the present there are three colleges and one university in The Gambia. The masterplan project seeks to relocate and integrate the four institutions into one, to make a new, fully integrated University of The Gambia for 15.000 students. The project was initiated by the President of The Gambia.
The masterplan prepares the groundwork to be able to meet the flexible campus design which is based on a ‘modular’ faculty building that has the flexibility to program and education. the campus ‘green river’ bind the faculties and ties back to the Faraba Banta and prepares for the new urban development.
The new campus will set a standard environmental issues in The Gambia, the establishment of a solar park to make energy, a power plant to take responsibility for waste management locally, the campus area will set a new standard and the environmental profile will be important as educational investments in the students that will be the future leaders educated at the UTG.
To design a new campus on a site that has almost no infrastructure, has been a challenge. There are different directions for campus planning, but most are examples from western campuses. For Snohetta it has been important to find a way to make a Gambian Campus and to bring elements from the Gambian traditions to a new expression. Through analysis of the traditional Gambian settlements and landscapes, we have found an important inspiration to find the direction for this project. Through this analysis, Snohetta has found three strong elements that have been important for development the design for the campus masterplan; the green structure, the African fractal as components for the faculty buildings and the out door meeting places set in an hierarchy through ‘Bantabas’, ‘compounds’ and atriums.’
Further information: www.snohetta.com