The CDC – La Termitière was founded in 2005 and inaugurated on the Théâtre Populaire site in December 2006. For years the CDC has been thinking how to give life to this abandoned building, in downtown Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The today´s answer is Théâtre Populaire Idea(l).
The Théâtre Populaire Idea(l)
In collaboration with Inspireli and Jakub Cigler Architekti, La Termitière Choreographic Development Center (CDC) was pleased to launch a competition called “The Popular Theater Idea(l) – a student competition of architectural, artistic and design ideas for the sustainable rehabilitation of this amphitheatre. Emphasis was placed on conscious, innovative, respectful and courageous visions valuing local potentials and materials while communicating with the largest possible audience.
The competition attracted 146 proposals from 252 students in architecture, design, civil engineering, landscape architecture, theater, scenography and fine arts from 43 countries around the world: Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Chad, China, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Italy, Kenya, Lebanon, Macedonia, Mauritius, Mexico, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Bolivia, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Switzerland, Syria, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United States of America .. These students offered conscious visions of the theater of tomorrow and have addressed the respective causes of climate change to anticipate its future impacts.
Théâtre Populaire Idea (l) and Inspireli wish to promote respect for local realities, sustainability, resilience, excellence in design and architecture, transparency and credibility in the selection process. 24 finalist projects were selected by an international online jury to then be evaluated by a final jury on August 06, 2020 in Ouagadougou.
This jury was composed by the architects Solange and Léandre Guigma (Agence Perspective, which did the study for the Popular Theater in 2010), the architect Evariste Mawuli Bambara representing the Chamber of Architects in Burkina Faso, the architects Jakub Cigler and Michaela Solnická Volná (studio (unlimited) Jakub Cigler Architekti), Koussoubé Mady (Ministry of Culture), Harouna Ramde Dit Ramses (Ouagadougou City Hall), Papus Ismaïla Zongo dit Le Commandant Papus (Wonders Prod), Alceny Saïdou Barry (Journalist arts critic Observers Paalga), Yéyé Zakaria (CA of the CDC), Odile Sankara (CA of the CDC), François Bouda (Communication of the CDC), Salla Diene (Deputy Director of the CDC) and Salia Sanou (Director of the CDC).
The works selected for the final jury are published online and exhibited at the CDC from September 15 so that the general public and the community can discover the various alternatives of the sustainable rehabilitation of the theater as a constructive tool of a resilient cultural city.
progress
2016_11______first contact – immersing into the triennale Danse Afrique Danse, research
2018_06______initial discussions about the Théâtre Populaire
2018_09______concept of the competition, searching for partners
2019_10______launching of the competition within the Inspireli Awards
2020_07______deadline of submissions
2020_09______final selection in Ouagadougou
2020_10______public vote within the exposition in Ouagadougou
2020_10______gala ceremony – result announcement within the Inspireli in Bratislava
2020_12______exposition of finalist works at the occasion of festival Dialogue de Corps organised by CDC La Termitière in Ouagadougou
in documents
more details and the competition brief in three languages (English, French, Czech) are available here
Submission of proposals is July 14, 2020. The competition is non-anonymous, open to students from around the world without limits
and pictures
acknowledgements
My sincere acknowledgement is addressed to all people who contributed with their ideas and energy to make this experience happen.
To the whole team of CDC La Termitiere, to the energetic and generous Salamatou Diene, the delegate director of CDC, the dynamic and determined Salia Sanou, the artistic director of CDC, Daouda Zerbo, technical asistant of CDC, generous and wise Léandre Guigma, architect and urbanist, the Chamber of Architects in Burkina Faso. To Mr. Karel Smejkal, arch. psychologist, researcher of Psychology of Architecture and president of INSPIRELI AWARDS and his hard-working and convinced team and partners.
The competition would not be possible without the continuous engagement, time and energy of architects from the studio Jakub Cigler Architekti, of Souleymane Ladji Kone, the complice from JUMP in Burkina Faso, assistance of Michaela Saisová, the production manager of the studio Jakub Cigler Architekti, and the overwhelming generosity of Jakub Cigler, the founder and the director of the studio Jakub Cigler Architekti.
Thank you!
Michaela Solnická Volná
unlimited Jakub Cigler Architekti 