Brendan Culley The city served as a precursor in residential projects of Western Europe in the fifties and the following decades, so there are many things that we can learn from Casablanca. social geographer / urban project manager Brendan Culley's studies in the field of Geography took him to Utrecht University for a Master's in Urban Geography in 2010. That is where he got to work with AAmatters in the context of his thesis project. After that, he moved back to this hometown in Brussels and completed a second masters in Geography where he wrote his thesis on Ethnic entrepreneurship in the inner city. He now works on urban regeneration for a local municipality of Saint-Josse in Brussels, managing the Duurzaam wijkcontract programme which provides new public ameneties, better public space and a range of socio-economic cohesion initiatives to a neighbourhood that needs a fresh start. projects involved Learning from Casablanca During his studies in Urban Geography, Brendan began to develop an interest in the underlying mechanics which are at play in shaping cities of this world. ​ 'You have top-down urban planning which translates a vision for the city or the development of a new neighbourhood, and you have bottom-up urban adaptation which follows a raw, immediate necessity that has its roots in family, living standards, household rythms, and even broader traits that pertain to society or tradition. These two approaches converse in the most spectacular fashion in the modernist experiment called 'Casablanca'. The city served as a precursor in residential projects of western Europe in the fifties and the following decades, so there are many things that we can learn from Casablanca.' ​ The user-initiated physical appropriation of dwellings by locals is what Brendan's Master's Thesis is all about. And it fitted well into the multi-disciplinary research programme steered by AAmatters. If you want to read more about Brendan's thesis, it can be found here . back to the team overview

To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key. Ghana Urban Food Environments under The Netherlands Food Partnership Category Research , Community ​ Period 2021-2022 ​ AAmatters team Franka van Marrewijk ​ Partners /Collaborators Netherlands Food Partnership MDF Ghana Dorcas Ansah (co-lead, WIEGO) Ato Kwamina (ACEC) Benjamin Oforo, Julius-Jayson Botchway and Croden Asare (University of Ghana) Vincent Linderhof (University of Groningen) Stephen Adaawen (University of Groningen) Cecilia Akuley Gyimah (MDF Ghana) Vanessa Nigten (NFP) ​ Relevant links NFP website midterm report ​ tags #urbanplanning #participatory #bottom up #Ghana #markets The Ghanian Urban Food Environments Collective Impact Coalition was launched by a number of engaged professionals from Ghana and the Netherlands, under the stewardship of Netherlands Food Partnership (NFP) in 2021. The coalition is represented by a broad range of members including (young) food entrepreneurs, architects, farmers, chefs, nutritionists, government officials, food journalists, agro-ecologists, representatives of market vendors, academics and others. Working collectively, the coalition members collaborate to improve the availability and consumption of healthy diets in Accra, using a food systems approach. NFP works towards boosting transformative approaches for sustainable food systems and healthy diets in low and middle income countries. AAMatters is part of Action Group Two together with a number of other Ghanaian and Dutch members. The focus area of action group two is on the trading and purchasing environment with Ghanian food markets as focus.These are frequented places with healthy food options available for relatively low prices, but often deal with quite some issues in delivering healthy food and healthy working environment. Action Group 2 selected some of the biggest markets in Accra to carry out their research activities, including Agboblosi and Dome market. By looking at markets from a bottom up perspective our group aimed to enhance market organization and working conditions for improved safety, increased healthy food options and market participation. In December 2021 we organized a consultation at the Agbloboshie market and the Dome market in Accra with vendors and market leaders to find out the day to day challenges within their markets. As a next step, a final session with the key stakeholders from the government, sanitation and management officials, market queens and item leaders to discuss the identified issues and work together on practical solutions. In addition, as part of the Erasmus University Community Project, we supported a parallel student research on market places in the Netherlands to find out the similarities and differences between market places in the Netherlands and Ghana. Relevant projects Ng'ambo Housing Research Ng'ambo Tuitakayo back to the projects overview

To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key. Institut fur Tropenbau CategorY Research ​ Period 2010 - date ​ AAmatters team Antoni Folkers Antie Kaan Lot Bakker ​ Partners /Collaborators Canadian Centre for Architecture ​ Relevant links Announcement Master programme ​ tags #architecture #urban planning #library #archive #urbanism Relevant projects Coen Beeker Modern Architecture in Africa back to the projects overview The Institut fur Tropenbau (Institute for Building in the Tropics) was a knowledge centre on building in the tropic, set up by Georg Lippsmeier in the 1960’s. In the 22 years of its active existence, an extensive and valuable library has been built up. This library was inherited by AAmatters and is now being make accessible worldwide in collaboration with the Canadian Centre for Architecture. Georg Lippsmeier was born in 1923 in Magdeburg. Georg enrolled at the Technische Hochschule Braunschweig (Brunswick) for architectural studies straight after the end of the war in 1945. He completed his studies with a PhD on ecclesial architecture in 1949. In 1950 Lippsmeier established his own practice, later internationally known as L+P Architects. In 1960, Lippsmeier and his family moved to Starnberg in Bavaria, where he opened a second office. Around the same time, Lippsmeier’s interest for tropical architecture was roused, resulting in a large amount of designed and built projects in the tropics. Lippsmeier would become the most successful German tropical architect from the 1960s to the 1990s. The office of L+P Architects has signed for an impressive amount of design and building projects in the tropics; in the Far East (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia), in Asia (India, Pakistan), in Middle America (El Salvador, Guatemala, Trinidad) and, particularly, in Africa. From the offices in Düsseldorf and Starnberg, satellite- or field-offices were established in many of these countries, some for the duration of the specific projects, others to last for longer periods and becoming semi-independent practices by themselves. Such offices existed over time in Togo, Vietnam, Trinidad, Kenya, Senegal and Tanzania, amongst others. Lippsmeier’s interest in the tropics eventually lead to the establishment, in 1969, of the Institut für Tropenbau, the Institute for Tropical Building (IFT), that was housed in the Starnberg office of L+P Architects. The IFT consisted of part-time researchers, often architect-employees of L+P Architects, under the direction of Georg Lippsmeier. The group researched and published on a wide range of topics related to tropical architecture and urbanism, with an emphasis on building technology, climate design and housing the urban poor, commencing with the publication of the book Tropenbau -- Building in the Tropics in 1969, which would become one of the major international textbooks for architects and students aspiring to work in the tropics during the 1970s to 1990s. During its lifetime, the IFT built up a unique research library and images collection, on which much of the research and publications were based. Most of the research work and writing at the IFT was carried out by L+P Architects’ staff, with the exception of Kiran Mukerji, who was employed directly by the IFT. Mukerji was employed as researcher and author from 1973 to 1985. He was the main force in the building up and documentation of the research library and (co)author of almost all works published during his employment. Mukerji left the IFT to become independent researcher and consultant in 1985, which he remained until his retirement. The IFT activities slowed down after Mukerji’s departure, and came to final standstill at Lippsmeier’s death in 1991. Notwithstanding Lippsmeier lifelong investment in research and publications on tropical architecture, German expertise on tropical architecture was in the end not really a marketable commodity. It could be said that the IFT was Lippsmeier’s ultimate mission in life, which he supported with the finance and personal capacities that he had gathered in his architectural practice. In 2007, the collection still was completely intact, when the inheritance was discussed with Antoni Folkers, who once worked for Lippsmeier and the IFT as well. Folkers, as one of the key members of ArchiAfrika at that time, proposed to bring IFT under the umbrella of ArchiAfrika and aim to make the unique collection of books, publications, documents, drawings, slides and maps accessible for scholars and researchers worldwide. The son of Georg Lippsmeier, Ulrich Lippsmeier – who continued the practice after the passing away of his father – agreed to the handover and in the fall of 2007 the collection was moved to the Netherlands. Other collections joint the IFT, like the Kiran Mukerji and Coen Beeker collections. Over the years the collections were checked and made accessible under Antoni Folkers’ supervision. It served various scholars, practitioners and students in their research. When ArchiAfrika shifted its base to Accra, it was commonly decided that the IFT would remain with AAmatters in Europe, out of practical reasons – close to Folkers with the most extensive knowledge on the archives - and it was thought the best location to guarantee the widest accessibility of the material. AAmatters however had limited means to make this work and in 2016 a collaboration with the Canadian Centre for Architecture (CCA), much better equipped for this, started to open up the collections widely. The collections have been moved to the CCA in the fall of 2016 and together with AAmatters a programme is prepared to make further study of the collections and make it accessible worldwide. In the coming year a seminar will be organised in collaboration with the 2 institutes. In the summer of 2017 a first study has been completed, of which the results will be shared soon.

To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key. BLUEPRINT FOR MAJESTIC CINEMA CULTURE HUB CategorY Consultancy Research ​ Period 2019-2020 ​ AAmatters team Berend van der Lans Iga Perzyna ​ Partners /Collaborators Hifadhi Zanzibar Ltd. Reclaim Women Space Busara Promotions Zanzibar International Film Festival Project funded by Culture at Work Africa ​ Relevant links Culture at Work Africa ​ Hifadhi Zanzibar Ltd. Busara Promotions Zanzibar International Film Festival ​ tags #architecture #culture #research #collaboration #cinema The history of cinema in Zanzibar goes back to the early 20th century. In its heydays the island was home to three permanent movie theatres visited weekly by hundreds of people hungry for entertainment and curious about the wider world. For a long time, cinemas were one of the few social and cultural venues in town that brought together people from various social backgrounds, ethnicities and genders. Today, of the three purpose-built cinemas only the Majestic Cinema in Vuga, built in 1954 remains in its original use. Despite the steadily declining public and poor technical and structural condition of the building, Abdulhussein Marashi, the manager of the cinema since the 1980s, has managed to keep its doors open until today. ​ Through the project Blueprint For Majestic Cinema ‘Culture Hub’ Hifadhi Zanzibar, together with its project partners ZIFF, Busara Promotions and Reclaim Women Space, seeks to create a socio-cultural and operational basis for the proposed cultural hub in the Majestic Cinema. AAmatters assists Hifadhi and its partners in the development of the project. The culture hub will draw on the inclusive and egalitarian traditions of cinema in Zanzibar and will serve as cultural centre for people, a meeting place for different arts and a platform for dialogue. The future use of the building will be centred around its original use as a cinema, but in order to ensure its sustainability it will also be provided with additional functions such as offices for our project partners and commercial spaces e.g. a café, snack bar or restaurant. The project is the first step in the process leading to the restoration of the building, but will itself not result in physical work on the cinema. Relevant projects Art & Architecture at Work Abattoir Casablanca back to the projects overview

To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key. Ng’ambo Housing Research CategorY Research , Workshops Period 2015 ​ AAmatters team Berend van der Lans Steven Zijlstra Antoni Folkers Aurora Kazi Bassett Nicole Bolomey Amélie Chauvin Alexandra Papadaki ​ Partners /Collaborators DoURP ZSSF City of Amsterdam Stadsherstel Amsterdam NV ​ Relevant links facebook page TOS master thesis blog ​ tags #affordable housing #Heritage based urban regeneration #intangible heritage #urban planning Relevant projects Ng'ambo tuitakayo Ng’ambo Atlas Finding Stories Since 2013, the Department of Urban and Rural Planning (DoURP) of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, together with African Architecture Matters and other partners, is advancing on the heritage-based regeneration of Ng’ambo following the UNESCO Historic Urban Landscape approach. Through mapping exercises and a design by research / research by design approach under the flag of ‘Ng’ambo Tuitakayo’ (The Ng’ambo we want), a Local Area Plan for Ng’ambo and Policy Planning Guidelines for Historic Urban Areas are being developed. Ng’ambo is earmarked the future city centre following the Masterplan for Zanzibar town, Zansplan (2015). In the Masterplan, it is further stated that the area is considered inclusive and mixed use, hence a mix of commercial and residential use. Residential use is essential if one strives for heritage-based regeneration, with an emphasis on intangible heritage. Intangible heritage is the socio-cultural component of the urban history; this comes for a great part from its residents. This forms an important driver for the development of a specific strategy to realise affordable housing in the existing urban tissue, providing opportunities for the current inhabitants to remain residing in the area but at the same time improving the urban quality and living conditions. Affordable housing in Africa is usually provided on clean sheet sites at the periphery of urban areas. If housing is realised in urban zones, the existing structures are pushed aside, often with their residents, and replaced by high-end commercial residential development. Maintaining the current residents – of whom a substantial part is of modest means – as future residents in the area, means that strategies need to be developed to realise affordable housing in the area that fits well into the Local Area Plan. In December 2014, this was the motivation for DoURP and AAmatters to start a research and organise a workshop on housing strategies in a Historic Urban Landscape (HUL), supported by Zanzibar Social Security Fund. The result of the research and workshop was presented in a report that was published in August 2015. The report included the Ng’ambo Housing Action Plan that was further discussed in workshops in October and December 2015. The conclusions of these discussions have been condensed in a further elaborated proposal for the Ng’ambo Housing Action Plan (NGH Action Plan) and has been presented to partners of DoURP to stimulate the formation of the NGH Action Team. The next steps are being prepared in 2017. Download the report here back to the projects overview

To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key. Abattoir Casablanca Category Publication ​ Period 2012 - 2014 ​ AAmatters team Berend van der Lans ​ Partners /Collaborators City of Casablanca City of Amsterdam Casamemoire ​ Relevant links Order here ​ tags #heritage #reuse #community #culture Relevant projects Learning from Casablanca Hifadhi Zanzibar Art & Architecture at Work As part of a common programme between the cities of Casablanca – Morocco – and Amsterdam, a book was published that highlights the Casablanca Abattoir’s architecture and the socio-cultural programme that was developed since the factory was closed in 2002. Inspired by examples from Amsterdam, like Westergasfabriek, NDSM wharf and others, the 2 cities worked together on a programme that developed the Abattoirs into a ‘Fabrique Culturelle’ that aimed to be an incubator for a more permanent use. AAmatters was member of the editing team and contributed to the publication with a research and text on similar examples from elsewhere in Africa and beyond. On 26 March 2014, the Cities of Casablanca and Amsterdam, together with Casamemoire, presented ‘L'Batwar - Story of a Transformation’ in the former abattoirs in Morocco’s largest city. The book portraits the history of the architecturally fascinating municipal slaughterhouses, situated between the city centre and the neighbourhood Hay Mohammadi. Many factory workers and their families were living in this neighbourhood with a strong social cohesion, where political resistance lead to several large protests in the past. After the factory closed its doors in the beginning of the century, the strategic position in the city and its exceptional architectural beauty gave rise to thoughts of converting the complex into a driver for development of the area. Since 2009, a group of around 15 socio-cultural organisations make use of the spaces and developed a programme as 'Fabrique Culturelle’, involving also many inhabitants and their children. It is time to diverge towards a more definite mode of use, allowing the architectural beauty of the abattoirs to shine again. The book gives a colourful insight of the past of the buildings, its formal use and its more informal socio-cultural function in the recent years through texts, images and drawings. Possible ways forward are reflected via examples of successful conversions from similar complexes elsewhere in the world. The book, a common effort of the cities of Casablanca and Amsterdam as a vector of their International Collaborative programme, is coordinated by Abderrahim Kassou, with Maria Daif as publication director. The graphic design is from Rudy Guedj, who graduated at the Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam with this project. AAmatters was involved in the production of 'L'Batwar’ through Berend van der Lans, who was part of the Editorial Board with Sabine Gimbrère, Wouter Hazelhoff Roelfzema, Abderrahim Kassou, Jaap Schoufour and Wafaa Skalli and contributed to the book with a few texts. ​ Read the interview on the book with Maria Daif in French here . back to the projects overview

To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key. Accra Revisited Category Event ​ Period 2015 ​ AAmatters team Berend van der Lans ​ Partners /Collaborators ArchiAfrika Cityförster DASUDA RVO Royal Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands - Accra ​ Relevant links Archifrika magazine Dasuda publication ​ tags #urban_planning #heritage #heritage_management Relevant projects Hifadhi Zanzibar back to the projects overview The ‘Urban Design Conference on Accra: Accra Revisited’ was organised by ArchiAfrika and DASUDA (Dutch Alliance for Sustainable Urban Development in Africa) together in February 2015. This conference was seeking to build upon existing development plans and initiatives in Accra and Ghana in order to initiate outcomes that can be built upon and executed in the medium to long term. A group of leading voices and advocates in the realm of economy, finance and economy, design and architecture, and the creative arts and culture came together and discussed the possibilities for sustainable urban development in Accra. Berend van der Lans from AAmatters contributed to the organisation of the event by giving advice to the organisational team and by organising a workshop on a model for private sector involvement in heritage management. This was focused upon the model of Stadsherstel Amsterdam, that also forms the basis of Hifadhi Zanzibar. From 25-27 February 2015, the Children’s Library in the centre of Accra formed the nucleus of ‘Accra Revisited’, an event with presentations, debates and workshops that brought together a group of visionary thinkers in architecture and urban space from West Africa. Also present were students from the Berlage Institute from Delft and a group of Dutch consultants and architects in an attempt to identify common grounds and fields of operation. For the Berlage students, the event was an insightful introduction for their commencing studio work, aiming at developing proposals for three nodes in Accra’s urban fabric. The urban challenges were not only debated by architects and urban planners. Also finance, mobility, education, design, marketing, the social and other sectors were represented, offering multiple dimensions and perspectives on Accra and the way it is developing. The Children’s Library was a manifestation in itself; ArchiAfrika , the local organiser of the event, made a huge efford through local support in funding and in kind to restore some of the glory of this 1956 monument that is threatened by demolition. ArchiAfrika showed what it stands for by not only bringing back life into the library, but also bringing the key note lecture of upcoming star architect Kunle Adeyemi to a public stage in the derelict Old Kingsway Building in James Town, sided by two of Ghana’s most successful rappers of today. This event was literally ground shaking and was attended by many, all impressed by Adeyemi’s approach and stamina in introducing new ways to architecture and city development in Nigeria and elsewhere. Workshop sessions focused on specific issues and challenges of a variety of scales in Accra. African Architecture Matters was present as well, to workshop the role that heritage can play in the city and to project the private investment model that has been successful in Amsterdam for over 60 years and in recent years has been effectively adapted in Paramaribo and Zanzibar on the case of Accra. Heritage constitutes an important source of identity and cohesion for communities. Losses caused to heritage can deprive a community of its memory, the physical testimony to its past, but also of a precious resource for social and economic development. Heritage tourism is a main source of income for many historic cities. In Accra, parts of the city can also be identified as highly valuable heritage. This is not limited to sites listed by UNESCO, it is even likely that areas like James and Usher Town are of more importance for identity and cohesion for the communities and have great potential for economic development. ArchiAfrika showed this by organising Adeyemi’s lecture in the Old Kingsway Building. It seems obvious that care of heritage is in the hands of the governments. However, capacities may be insufficient and governments may lack the visionary approach towards opportunities that is characteristic for the private sector. Successful examples of private contribution to heritage protection are scarse. Stadsherstel Amsterdam N.V. is such an example that started as a private initiative in 1956, developed later into a public private partnership with the local government and contributed largely to the development of the historic city centre into an important economic driver for Amsterdam. Interest from overseas triggered the company to assist in similar initiatives elsewhere in the world. Stadsherstel Paramaribo has restored and is renting out a growing number of historic buildings since 2009. On Zanzibar some of the larger investors joined hands and are about to start with Hifadhi Zanzibar (Preserve Zanzibar ) on the East African island, famous for its World Heritage Site that is in needy shape. Key in the three cases is, that the shareholders, mostly representatives of the local private sector, retain only a modest dividend, while the remainder of the profit is reinvested in extending the portfolio of the company. Property is never sold, but rented out on a profitable basis and well maintained. The visionary shareholders aim at maximising the investment in heritage based development of the city. Their benefit is long term; a more healthy urban environment also will be a better business environment. Is this a model that could work in Accra as well? Berend van der Lans, closely involved in the establishment of Hifadhi Zanzibar, presented what has been reached so far in Amsterdam, Surinam and Zanzibar, followed by a discussion on the fertility for such an initiative in Accra on the basis of concrete examples. The most important conclusions of the discussions were: The model needs a small group of visionary investors, who are keen to take this up as a challenge. It was believed that in Accra such a group could be formed; An extensively discussed issue was the land ownership situation, especially in James Town, the example that was taken as a potential pilot site. Many plots are in family ownership and traces of family history go back centuries. This on the one hand underpins the great heritage value of the property, on the other hand it may result in extensive negotiations with a large number of family members who all have or claim a say in an eventual transfer. Also, it was mentioned that the value of the plots in Accra and/or James Town is overrated. Expectations of owners may be far too high. This is a potential problem. Nevertheless, examples from for instance Johannesburg show that the potential of investment in built heritage can be very profitable. It means a critical look at sites and buildings in the larger region of Accra. Feasibility studies for buildings in James Town but also in other areas that historically are valuable need to be set up, to test the profitability. Similar studies have been set up in Paramaribo and Zanzibar, prior to the establishment of the respective companies. There was a concern that projects undertaken by such a company would mean that original inhabitants would be evicted and replaced by wealthier inhabitants, so called gentrification. This is partly a fair point, but the example companies from Amsterdam, Surinam and Zanzibar have high standards in that sense and either give existing inhabitants the possibility to come back at decent costs, or offer alternative housing. Also, the companies contribute to job creation and by improving the urban environment; the chances for work and development are improving as well.

Publications Research Events Consultancy Urban + Rural planning Exhibitions Education Community Workshops Publications Publications | Research | Events | Consultancy | Urban + Rural Planning | Exhibitions | Education | Community | Workshops Abattoir Casablanca As part of a common programme between the cities of Casablanca – Morocco – and Amsterdam, a book was published that highlights the Casablanca Abattoir’s architecture and the socio-cultural programme that was developed since the factory was closed in 2002... ArchiAfrika Newsletters In the transition period between 2010 and 2012 – when the shift of the ArchiAfrika secretariat to Accra – Ghana was prepared, AAmatters took care of the editing, compiling and distribution of the then bi-monthly magazine... Art and Architecture at Work In the context of the UN Habitat Governing Council Meeting that took place that took place in Nairobi, 15-18 April 2013, a workshop was organised on inclusive urban development in the African urban realm. This workshop was organised in collaboration with the European Commission, the Centre for Fine Arts (BOZAR - Brussels) as well as GoDown Arts Centre, ArchiAfrika and Wolff Architects... Coen Beeker Coen Beeker is an unsung pioneer in bottom-up and participatory approach to urban planning with over 40 years of experience in Africa. During an international seminar on 23 March 2017, organized in partnership with the African Studies Centre Leiden, the work and thought of Beeker was celebrated. A retrospective glance at his achievements and their benefits for contemporary and future urban planners was taken. The seminar featured speakers from Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Zanzibar & the Netherlands. Modern Architecture in Africa Inspired by this experiences as an architect and researcher as well as activist in a variety of locations in Africa since 1985, Antoni Folkers published Modern Architecture in Africa in 2010.The book sets out to link the worlds of traditional site-specific architecture with the Modernist project in Africa which have been considered in isolation to date. Mtoni Palace On the western beach of Zanzibar stand the impressive ruins of a palace. It was the seat of power of Seyyid Said, sultan of East Africa and Oman and it was here that the famous Princess Salme was born. Its name is Mtoni Palace. It was a major building complex on Zanzibar and it stands at the basis of the much admired Zanzibar building tradition. Ng’ambo Atlas After the completion of the Ng’ambo Tuitakayo project, the collected material during the mapping phase appeared so rich, that together with the Government of Zanzibar it was decided to make it available for a wider audience. Research Events Ghana Urban Food Environments The Ghanian Urban Food Environments Collective Impact Coalition was launched by a number of engaged professionals from Ghana and the Netherlands, under the stewardship of Netherlands Food Partnership (NFP) in 2021. The Ng’ambo Atlas @ the Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism In 2019, Zanzibar and the City of Amsterdam were asked to participate in the Seoul Biennale and present their collaborative project on Ng’ambo, well suited for the theme ‘Collective Cities’. The Ng’ambo Atlas that was produced by the Department of Urban and Rural Planning and AAmatters present the outcomes of the research process in this collaboration with both organisations at the centre. Uganda Museum ‘Keeping It Modern’ AAmatters forms part of the project team of the Uganda Museum ‘Keeping It Modern’ project aiming at developing a conservation management plan for the building. Uganda Museum, designed by the German architect Ernst May and built in 1954, is one of the first purpose-built museums in Africa and one of the first modernist buildings in Kampala. The museum is a popular landmark for local residents and international tourists, but its prime location, coupled with real estate development pressures in... BLUEPRINT FOR MAJESTIC CINEMA CULTURE HUB The history of cinema in Zanzibar goes back to the early 20th century. In its heydays the island was home to three permanent movie theatres visited weekly by hundreds of people hungry for entertainment and curious about the wider world. For a long time, cinemas were one of the few social and cultural venues in town that brought together people from various social backgrounds, ethnicities and genders. Today, of the three purpose-built cinemas only the Majestic Cinema in Vuga, built in 1954... Bayimba Cultural Centre Assessment of a proposed project for a cultural centre on Lubiri, one of the royal hills of Kampala, with a rich and also tragic history. The Bayimba Cultural Centre is a combined music-dance-performing arts initiative, already active for a number of years in Kampala and beyond. Fanjove Lighthouse Fanjove Lighthouse is situated on Fanjove, the outermost island of the Mafia Archipelago, on the southern shores of Tanzania.The lighthouse was built in 1893 by the German colonial authorities, but abandoned at Independence in 1961. Subsequent decay and vandalization led to the building to become seriously endangered in 2013. Institut fur Tropenbau The Institut fur Tropenbau (Institute for Building in the Tropics) was a knowledge centre on building in the tropic, set up by Georg Lippsmeier in the 1960’s. In the 22 years of its active existence, an extensive and valuable library has been built up. This library was inherited by AAmatters and is now being make accessible worldwide in collaboration with the Canadian Centre for Architecture. Learning from Casablanca Casablanca served as laboratory for European architects to experiment with modernist mass housing in the 40’s and 50’s. The visions of modernist architecture spread all over the world, suggesting new structures in housing, work, transport, and leisure. Mtoni Palace On the western beach of Zanzibar stand the impressive ruins of a palace. It was the seat of power of Seyyid Said, sultan of East Africa and Oman and it was here that the famous Princess Salme was born. Its name is Mtoni Palace. It was a major building complex on Zanzibar and it stands at the basis of the much admired Zanzibar building tradition. Ng’ambo Atlas After the completion of the Ng’ambo Tuitakayo project, the collected material during the mapping phase appeared so rich, that together with the Government of Zanzibar it was decided to make it available for a wider audience. Ng’ambo Housing Research Since 2013, the Department of Urban and Rural Planning (DoURP) of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, together with African Architecture Matters and other partners, is advancing on the heritage-based regeneration of Ng’ambo following the UNESCO Historic Urban Landscape approach. Ng’ambo Tuitakayo The Government of Zanzibar has recently developed National Spatial Planning Strategies and is in the process of implementing them. One of the key focuses is to develop specific policy and instruments for urban planning and maintenance based on heritage, since Zanzibar has a rich history that is still clearly demonstrated in tangible and intangible forms. ProCredit Ghana ProCredit Ghana is a micro finance bank, supporting many small and medium size businesses and in that sense contributing to the sustainable development of one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Consultancy The Ng’ambo Atlas @ the Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism In 2019, Zanzibar and the City of Amsterdam were asked to participate in the Seoul Biennale and present their collaborative project on Ng’ambo, well suited for the theme ‘Collective Cities’. The Ng’ambo Atlas that was produced by the Department of Urban and Rural Planning and AAmatters present the outcomes of the research process in this collaboration with both organisations at the centre. Kigali International Forum on Cultur The city of Kigali is growing as a business, convention, tourism and investment destination. Its national, regional and international capital status deserves a cultural offer on par with its economic achievements and ambitions. Adequate central cultural infrastructure for cultural expression and creativity, accessible to creative industries professionals and consumers, can reinforce Rwandan cultural identity and allow Kigali to become a vibrant cultural capital. Accra Revisited The ‘Urban Design Conference on Accra: Accra Revisited’ was organised by ArchiAfrika and DASUDA (Dutch Alliance for Sustainable Urban Development in Africa) together in February 2015. This conference was seeking to build upon existing development plans and initiatives in Accra and Ghana in order to initiate outcomes that can be built upon and executed in the medium to long term... African Architecture Education Netwo Among the involved architecture schools in the ArchiAfrika network, it was felt that a pan African collaboration among schools would be beneficial for both education and research. Together with the Aga Khan Award for Architecture – the organisation behind one of the largest architecture awards in the world, a meeting was organised in Accra, bringing 14 schools together from across the continent, to discuss common grounds and challenges. Art and Architecture at Work In the context of the UN Habitat Governing Council Meeting that took place that took place in Nairobi, 15-18 April 2013, a workshop was organised on inclusive urban development in the African urban realm. This workshop was organised in collaboration with the European Commission, the Centre for Fine Arts (BOZAR - Brussels) as well as GoDown Arts Centre, ArchiAfrika and Wolff Architects... Coen Beeker Coen Beeker is an unsung pioneer in bottom-up and participatory approach to urban planning with over 40 years of experience in Africa. During an international seminar on 23 March 2017, organized in partnership with the African Studies Centre Leiden, the work and thought of Beeker was celebrated. Finding Stories Within this collaboration the focus was on the heritage based regeneration of Ng’ambo, a less known area just outside of the world famous Stone Town, but equally interesting in historic sense. Next to mapping of the tangible component, it was essential to uncover the cultural and socio-economic framework in the area. Ng’ambo Tuitakayo The Government of Zanzibar has recently developed National Spatial Planning Strategies and is in the process of implementing them. One of the key focuses is to develop specific policy and instruments for urban planning and maintenance based on heritage, since Zanzibar has a rich history that is still clearly demonstrated in tangible and intangible forms Power of Spontaneity Our cities are planned to detail. Urban plans foresee an end product, a final stage. The reality is different, causing friction. Everything changes over time, and so do the demands on the built environment. We need to address this and incorporate flexibility to allow for spontaneous developments. Visionary Urban Africa In the context of the 4th EU-Africa Summit that took place in Brussels on 2 and 3 April 2014, a group of around 40 leading specialists and thinkers from international organisations, pan-African organisations, academia, civil society and the private and public sector gathered in the BOZAR building in the afternoon of 3 April, to discuss what route the EU-Africa collaboration could follow to stimulate inclusive development in the African urban reality. Urban + Rural planning Uganda Museum ‘Keeping It Modern’ AAmatters forms part of the project team of the Uganda Museum ‘Keeping It Modern’ project aiming at developing a conservation management plan for the building. Uganda Museum, designed by the German architect Ernst May and built in 1954, is one of the first purpose-built museums in Africa and one of the first modernist buildings in Kampala. The museum is a popular landmark for... BLUEPRINT FOR MAJESTIC CINEMA CULTURE HUB The history of cinema in Zanzibar goes back to the early 20th century. In its heydays the island was home to three permanent movie theatres visited weekly by hundreds of people hungry for entertainment and curious about the wider world. For a long time, cinemas were one of the few social and cultural venues in town that brought together people from various social backgrounds, ethnicities and genders. Today, of the three purpose-built cinemas only the Majestic Cinema in Vuga, built in 1954... Bayimba Cultural Centre Assessment of a proposed project for a cultural centre on Lubiri, one of the royal hills of Kampala, with a rich and also tragic history. The Bayimba Cultural Centre is a combined music-dance-performing arts initiative, already active for a number of years in Kampala and beyond. Hifadhi Zanzibar Hifadhi Zanzibar is a company that acquires, restores, rents out and manages monumental property in Zanzibar in a sustainable way. The shareholders – all from the local private sector in Zanzibar – receive a modest dividend while the majority of the profits will be used to reinvest in new property. Fanjove Lighthouse Fanjove Lighthouse is situated on Fanjove, the outermost island of the Mafia Archipelago, on the southern shores of Tanzania.The lighthouse was built in 1893 by the German colonial authorities, but abandoned at Independence in 1961 Michenzani Green Corridors During the process of the Ng’ambo Tuitakayo project in Zanzibar it became apparent that the development of the Karume and Mlandege Road form a key step into the redevelopment of Ng’ambo – an area that is also designated as the new city centre in the new metropolitan structure plan. Ng’ambo Housing Research Since 2013, the Department of Urban and Rural Planning (DoURP) of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, together with African Architecture Matters and other partners, is advancing on the heritage-based regeneration of Ng’ambo following the UNESCO Historic Urban Landscape approach. North East Unguja Special Area Plan Consultancy to the Department of Urban and Rural Planning in Zanzibar for the production of a Special Area Plan for the noertheastern coastal strip and facing marine area on Unguja Island. It is the first time that marine and land planning are being combined in one policy and strategy document. ProCredit Ghana ProCredit Ghana is a micro finance bank, supporting many small and medium size businesses and in that sense contributing to the sustainable development of one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Zanzibar Local Area Plans The Department of Urban and Rural Planning in Zanzibar has taken up the task of producing Local Area Plans for specific areas on Pemba and Unguja islands. This is the first time in history that these areas have become subject of any planning activity. Exhibitions Dak’art Workshop and Exhibition African public space may well provide successful solutions for public space challenges in the West – was the conclusion of the jury of the Blueprints of Paradise competition, developed by the Afrika Museum and AAmatters in 2010. Michenzani Green Corridors During the process of the Ng’ambo Tuitakayo project in Zanzibar it became apparent that the development of the Karume and Mlandege Road form a key step into the redevelopment of Ng’ambo – an area that is also designated as the new city centre in the new metropolitan structure plan. North East Unguja Special Area Plan Consultancy to the Department of Urban and Rural Planning in Zanzibar for the production of a Special Area Plan for the noertheastern coastal strip and facing marine area on Unguja Island. It is the first time that marine and land planning are being combined in one policy and strategy document. Ng’ambo Tuitakayo The Government of Zanzibar has recently developed National Spatial Planning Strategies and is in the process of implementing them. One of the key focuses is to develop specific policy and instruments for urban planning and maintenance based on heritage, since Zanzibar has a rich history that is still clearly demonstrated in tangible and intangible forms. Zanzibar Local Area Plans The Department of Urban and Rural Planning in Zanzibar has taken up the task of producing Local Area Plans for specific areas on Pemba and Unguja islands. This is the first time in history that these areas have become subject of any planning activity. Education The Ng’ambo Atlas @ the Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism In 2019, Zanzibar and the City of Amsterdam were asked to participate in the Seoul Biennale and present their collaborative project on Ng’ambo, well suited for the theme ‘Collective Cities’. The Ng’ambo Atlas that was produced by the Department of Urban and Rural Planning and AAmatters present the outcomes of the research process in this collaboration with both organisations at the centre. Blueprints of Paradise Together with the Afrika Museum in Berg en Dal in the Netherlands, AAmatters organised an international design contest for African architects and designers. They were asked to produce a blueprint for the Africa of the future. Coen Beeker Coen Beeker is an unsung pioneer in bottom-up and participatory approach to urban planning with over 40 years of experience in Africa. During an international seminar on 23 March 2017, organized in partnership with the African Studies Centre Leiden, the work and thought of Beeker was celebrated. Dak’art Workshop and Exhibition African public space may well provide successful solutions for public space challenges in the West – was the conclusion of the jury of the Blueprints of Paradise competition, developed by the Afrika Museum and AAmatters in 2010. Learning from Casablanca Casablanca served as laboratory for European architects to experiment with modernist mass housing in the 40’s and 50’s. The visions of modernist architecture spread all over the world, suggesting new structures in housing, work, transport, and leisure. Maputopia Maputo is close to being an architectural and urban utopia. Maputo as Utopia. MAPUTOPIA celebrates Maputo’s wonderful architectural qualities through a mapping exercise of its past, present and its possible future: another 125 years of architectural pride. Stars of Dar Stars of Dar projects an inventory of buildings and public spaces which play an important role in the city and represent what Dar es Salaam stands for. The presented buildings and spaces have been selected through interviews with key members and architects of Dar’s society. Community Dak’art Workshop and Exhibition African public space may well provide successful solutions for public space challenges in the West – was the conclusion of the jury of the Blueprints of Paradise competition, developed by the Afrika Museum and AAmatters in 2010. Learning from Casablanca Casablanca served as laboratory for European architects to experiment with modernist mass housing in the 40’s and 50’s. The visions of modernist architecture spread all over the world, suggesting new structures in housing, work, transport, and leisure. Maputopia Maputo is close to being an architectural and urban utopia. Maputo as Utopia. MAPUTOPIA celebrates Maputo’s wonderful architectural qualities through a mapping exercise of its past, present and its possible future: another 125 years of architectural pride. Stars of Dar Stars of Dar projects an inventory of buildings and public spaces which play an important role in the city and represent what Dar es Salaam stands for. The presented buildings and spaces have been selected through interviews with key members and architects of Dar’s society. Workshops Ghana Urban Food Environments The Ghanian Urban Food Environments Collective Impact Coalition was launched by a number of engaged professionals from Ghana and the Netherlands, under the stewardship of Netherlands Food Partnership (NFP) in 2021. Michenzani Green Corridors During the process of the Ng’ambo Tuitakayo project in Zanzibar it became apparent that the development of the Karume and Mlandege Road form a key step into the redevelopment of Ng’ambo – an area that is also designated as the new city centre in the new metropolitan structure plan. Ng’ambo Housing Research Since 2013, the Department of Urban and Rural Planning (DoURP) of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, together with African Architecture Matters and other partners, is advancing on the heritage-based regeneration of Ng’ambo following the UNESCO Historic Urban Landscape approach. Ng’ambo Tuitakayo The Government of Zanzibar has recently developed National Spatial Planning Strategies and is in the process of implementing them. One of the key focuses is to develop specific policy and instruments for urban planning and maintenance based on heritage, since Zanzibar has a rich history that is still clearly demonstrated in tangible and intangible forms. Kigali International Forum on Cultur The city of Kigali is growing as a business, convention, tourism and investment destination. Its national, regional and international capital status deserves a cultural offer on par with its economic achievements and ambitions. Adequate central cultural infrastructure for cultural expression and creativity, accessible to creative industries professionals and consumers, can reinforce Rwandan cultural identity and allow Kigali to become a vibrant cultural capital. Ng’ambo Housing Research Since 2013, the Department of Urban and Rural Planning (DoURP) of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, together with African Architecture Matters and other partners, is advancing on the heritage-based regeneration of Ng’ambo following the UNESCO Historic Urban Landscape approach. Ng’ambo Tuitakayo The Government of Zanzibar has recently developed National Spatial Planning Strategies and is in the process of implementing them. One of the key focuses is to develop specific policy and instruments for urban planning and maintenance based on heritage, since Zanzibar has a rich history that is still clearly demonstrated in tangible and intangible forms. Stars of Dar Stars of Dar projects an inventory of buildings and public spaces which play an important role in the city and represent what Dar es Salaam stands for. The presented buildings and spaces have been selected through interviews with key members and architects of Dar’s society. back to the top

To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key. ProCredit Ghana CategorY Research ​ Period 2012 ​ AAmatters team Berend van der Lans ​ Partners /Collaborators ProCredit Ghana ​ tags #sustainability #environment #energy Relevant projects Bayimba Cultural Centre ProCredit Ghana is a micro finance bank, supporting many small and medium size businesses and in that sense contributing to the sustainable development of one of the fastest growing economies in the world. ​ ProCredit takes its catalyst position serious and is not limited to finance when it comes to sustainability. Their new head offices, developed along Nsawam Road in Accra and designed by MultiCad Consulting Architects, Planners & Engineers Ltd., has been developed aiming at minimising environmental impact and maximising energy efficiency. African Architecture Matters executed an assessment for ProCredit to counter check the measurements and optimise the scheme. The assessment resulted in additional recommendations for passive energy savings, localised sourcing of materials and minimising maintenance costs. ​ The proposed measurements, in addition to the design, will minimise environmental impact, but also result in a financially efficient building. back to the projects overview

To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key. Art and Architecture at Work Category Event , Publication ​ Period 2012 - 2013 ​ AAmatters team Berend van der Lans ​ Partners /Collaborators BOZAR ArchiAfrika European Commission GoDown Arts Centre ​ Relevant links Bozar article ​ tags #architecture #urbanism #art #community #policy Relevant projects Abattoir Casablanca In the context of the UN Habitat Governing Council Meeting that took place that took place in Nairobi, 15-18 April 2013, a workshop was organised on inclusive urban development in the African urban realm. This workshop was organised in collaboration with the European Commission, the Centre for Fine Arts (BOZAR - Brussels) as well as GoDown Arts Centre, ArchiAfrika and Wolff Architects. Berend van der Lans from AAmatters compiled a publication for this event and lead the workshop that took place in the GoDown Arts Centre in Nairobi and involved Joy Mboya from the GoDown Arts Centre, Joe Addo from ArchiAfrika and Heinrich Wolff from Wolff Architects and a considerable representation of architects, planners and the cultural world from Nairobi. The results of the workshop were presented in the programme of the UN Habitat meeting. Also a presentation took place at the University of Nairobi. At the invitation of UN Habitat, the EC/BOZAR project Art at Work (expanded since the Kampala Regional conference into Art § Architecture at Work), advocated in this high-level official forum the role of artists and architects for urban resonance: dream, inclusiveness, and creativity for urban welfare. ​ Since independences, African artists, particularly photographers, have documented urban life on the Continent, from daily pleasures and struggles, to critical urban, political and environmental issues affecting city life. New aesthetics have emerged, as well as a conscious will by artists to engage in urban development. The growth of contemporary art centres and art biennials in the last 20 years all over the Continent, and their urban programs, attest to this thirst for expression and commitment to the city. A new young generation of African architects is equally socially, culturally and environmentally conscious, placing priority on Africa-relevant resources, design, employment, and sustainability. They offer new approaches to urban planning and development, in tune with urban cultures and environmental issues. ​ A few best practice cases - researched and compiled by Berend van der Lans of African Architecture Matters and BOZAR - are presented, in the form of an exhibit and a side event, as inspirations for urban planning approaches that enhance social cohesion and stability in the city. A publication has been prepared that can be downloaded as pdf as well. In the publication – with an introduction by José Manuel Barroso - there is among others attention to the work of GoDown Arts Centre and their ‘Nai Ni Who?’ project in Nairobi, Doual’art from Douala - Cameroon, Wolff Architects in South Africa, La Fabrique Culturelle in Casablanca – Morocco and Francis Kéré in Bourkina Faso and Mali. back to the projects overview

aurora kazi bassett It was so great to see projects move from thinking, talking and writing to doing something and implementation. history of cities and city planning / project manager Aurora Kazi Bassett (1988) was raised between New York City and Harare and received her undergraduate degree in the history of cities from Stanford University and a Master in City Planning degree in the International Development Group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2017. She has been working with AAmatters since she met the team in 2014 in Zanzibar. projects involved Aurora worked on the Ng’ambo Tuitakayo project, as a program manager with Hifadhi Zanzibar and on a number of nascent AAmatters projects. back to the team overview

berend van der lans It is beautiful to see how perspectives are widened and the opportunities that are arising are taken. Our projects bring so much more than the direct results. Associate architect Berend van der Lans (1966) has been working as an architect in Europe and Africa since 1992. In 2001, he co-founded the ArchiAfrika foundation, aiming to put African architecture and urbanism on the world map by making knowledge available, connecting people and enhancing the architectural debate on the continent. Berend facilitated the transformation of the foundation to an international organisation with - since 2012 - its base in Accra, Ghana. ​ In 2010, Berend and Antoni Folkers started African Architecture Matters. He is involved in many of the projects and is responsible for the office management and communication. He has published articles, contributed to publications and given lectures on various topics on architecture and urbanism in Africa. ​ As an architect, Berend van der Lans has been undertaking a wide range of projects, from rural hospitals in Africa to complicated European inner city design and execution. Since 2007 he runs Architectureplus, offering architecture and project management services. projects involved ​ Since Berend is involved in most of the projects, it goes too far to mention all of them here. Please see the projects section for an overview. Berend's general reflection on AAmatters: 'Our projects bring together people from many backgrounds in a wide variety of fields in the urban realm. Connections are made, bridges built. It is beautiful to see how perspectives are widened and the opportunities that are arising are taken. Our projects bring so much more than the direct results'. back to the team overview