The Cirlce of life - Maternity Centre
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Kolda, Senegal
Competition
2024
Located between the small villages of Saré Omar and Guiro Mandou in Kolda, Senegal, the “Circle of Life” is a maternity centre designed to provide comprehensive care for mothers during and after childbirth. In Southern Senegal, particularly in rural areas, there is a critical lack of medical healthcare. Approximately 65% of women give birth without medical staff or in inadequate hygienic conditions. This urgent need calls for thoughtful, resource-efficient design solutions.
The “Circle of Life” aims to offer a safe, hygienic, and tranquil environment for expectant mothers, supporting them from prenatal care through delivery and postnatal recovery. The design of the building draws inspiration from ancient impluvium family houses, a traditional vernacular architectural style prevalent in the Senegalese regions of Ziguinchor and Casamance.
Our design adapts the circular typology by splitting it in half, placing the delivery and post-delivery areas on opposite sides. This layout symbolizes the “circle of life,” with the birth of new life on one end and the continuation of life on the other. The naturally curved walls not only soften the room edges but also creates an intimate and comfortable spaces for mothers to rest and recuperate. By adopting this familiar vernacular style, it eases the transition for mothers from their homes to the new environment where they can be comfortable, supported and vulnerable in.
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