Porto-Novo, Republic of Benin
Kéré Architecture was entrusted to envision and design this new Benin National Assembly that will embody the values of democracy and the cultural identity of Benin.
As a country that suffered during its colonial era, the Republic of Benin wanted to create a new national assembly building to take a distance from this part of its history.
The architects used as a starting point of their designs the palaver tree: a majestic force of nature and a significant symbol of West African culture, as people traditionally met under the tree to make consensual decisions in the interest of a community.
At the heart of the new building lies the assembly hall which is located on the ground floor with its spectacular ceiling created by the dynamic reach of the structure supporting the functions above.
The crown is comprised of offices and auxiliary functions, set back from the deep façade, which filters the strong sunlight.
The trunk is hollow, creating a central courtyard that allows circulation spaces to be naturally ventilated and indirect light to penetrate the plan.
A spiral staircase in its center connects the assembly hall on the ground floor to the offices above.
A large part of the site is dedicated to a public park, which will showcase Benin’s native flora while providing Porto-Novo with an extensive recreation space.
To create a sense of openness and transparency, the park will extend to the foot of the palaver tree, offering a generous shaded space where citizens can gather and deliberate, analogous to the assembly hall on the opposite side.
In the southeast corner of the site, a public square marks the civic façade of the building, across from the former national assembly where Benin’s independence was historically declared.
Project: Benin National Assembly
Architects: Kéré Architecture GmbH
Lead Architect: Jeanne Autran-Edorh
Client: Republic of Benin
Project Management: Alexandra Zervudachi, Jaime Herraiz
Contributors: Kinan Deeb, Philippe Chazée, , Léa Sodangbe, Mariona Maeso, Javier Mola Cardenes, Andrea Maretto, Leonne Vögelin, Charles André, Ismaël N’Faly Camara, Léon Bührer, Malak Nasreldin, Viana Wagokh, N’Faly Ismael Camara, Ervin Muhovic, Yonas Tukuabo, Romane Pauchet Dupont, Alice Guilhou, Lili Friedrich, Rahma Fayca
Site Supervision: Alimadjai Boukari Ziberou, Nataniel Sawadogo
Local architects: COBLOC – Clarisse Krause, Régis Rilwan, Fructueux Avlou, Chalemagne Tohoudèdé
Structural Engineers (concept and design): AECOM, BEST Ingénierie – Anselme Gbaguidi
Structural Engineers (developed design and execution: SAHEL Ingeneurie – Yacine Gueye, Touba Badiane
MEP Engineers: CEA – Lucien Amoussou, Victoring Yehouenou, Pierre Sounouvou, Camille Aizo
Acoustic Engineer: Prof. Matthias Middelkamp
Light Concept: Zumtobel
HSE: ECOPLAN – Blandien Langanfin
Bureau de controle: APAVE – Moussae Mbaye
Construction Company: CSCEC
Client Representative: SImAU
