A presentation of the French Cultural Institute in Mauritius designed by Lampotang & Siew Architects Ltd (Mauritius).
General Concept
o The project was designed just when the French motion on Cultural diversity motion was presented at UNESCO in Oct 2005.
o Mauritius is a melting pot and a laboratory of cultures.
o The new Institute was seen by us as a cultural meeting platform for all Asian, African, and European cultures.
How ?
o We have used the natural topography and created an upper ground floor keeping all the 3 existing mature trees inside the building with nature playing the star role of the central void.
o The main element in our project is transparency, the ambiguity of interiors and exteriors which is also part of our tropical climate.
o The whole space is seen as a natural environment in a strong urban context interplaying nature and culture.
o And finally people will take control of the place creating a visible animation from the exterior
Space Organisation
o Total area of 2571 m² of 3 levels
• Level 0 – Parking and Technical
• Level +1 – Public –Cultural Spaces
• Level +2 - Administration
o Gentle ramp to the main gate in a succession of glazed portals
o Each portal is engraved with a pattern symbolising their arrival of each culture to Mauritius and meeting at the agora offered by France
Space uses
o Exhibitions
o Concerts – Shows
o Conferences - Workshops
o Café à la française
From the Space all are organised
o Amphitheatre
o Auditorium
o Mediatheque
o Offices
Environment control and integration
o Open spaces – porous agora allowing natural transversal ventilation
o Natural lighting to all spaces
o Sun shades and louvres
o Energy savings in terms of light and air conditioning
o Rain harvesting - Water recuperation and recycling
o Local materials in terms of stone, wood
About the architect:
Siew graduated from the Unité Pédagogique d’Architecture, Marseilles, France in 1979. He has been in private practice in Port Louis since 1981, and is a partner in Lampotang & Siew Architects Ltd. His work includes master plans for the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport in Mauritius, the Chinese neighbourhood in Port Louis and the Seychelles International Airport. He has also worked in France, India and other countries. He is a frequent speaker at international conferences and has been a juror for various architecture awards.
He was elected President of the Association of Mauritian Architects in 1985, and has played an active part in the island’s urban development and environment and heritage protection programmes. He is a member of the Economic and Social Council of Mauritius.
From 1998 to 2005 he was Secretary General of the African Union of Architects. He was elected President of the International Union of Architects during the UIA General Assembly which took place in Istanbul, Turkey, from 8 to 10 July 2005.[1] His successor-elect, Giancarlo Ius, died before he could take up the post at the 2008 Assembly in Torino. Remaining as President, Siew announced a triennial prize in Ius' name.
Lampotang & Siew Architects Ltd: http://www.ls-architects.mu
