public

PLACES

FIRST QUARTER 2016

MAKING

5Design primary school

22Stadium Gandiole

4Acknowledgements

Cover photo

Derk Sloot came driving down to Senegal and the Gambia. Before leaving he collected tools for our projects. This picture was taken to show our appreciation to the former tool owners.

Upcoming project: the central market26

24Redoing the sails at the fi shmarket

Making Public Places - First quarter 2016

2

1014 With Yene

Blog January - February 2016

20 Neighbours and neccessities

11 Tires and mudBlog December 2015

Tires, mud, exceptionally great people from all over the world and promising spin-off in Yene. The main activity of the past quarter year was by far the construction of the Studio Placemakers Homebase.

Homebase Studio Placemakers

Welcome

We proudly present our fi rst quarterly digital magazine! In the following pages you can take a tour along recent and upcoming projects. Enjoy it in any way you like. A reader to join us on our journey through the struggles and joys of working in Senegal. A picture book to scroll through. Or a leafl et to pass on to anyone interested. But most of all it is a big thank you to all the people and organisations that make it possible!

3

Studio Placemakers thanks:

The Dutch foundation Making Public Places is

the formal platform of Studio Placemakers

Commune de Yène

We recently started our

ongoing crowdfunding in

the Netherlands. Already

120 ‘mogelijkmakers’

support our work with a

monthly contribution.

Typisch Jij sells second

hand clothing and more. If

you bring in clothes 20%

of the profi t goes to Studio

Placemakers.

Aide Gandiole has

commissioned us to

design several public place

projects in the village of

Gandiole, Senegal.

Several people have made

personal contributions

or collected money in

creative ways and donated

it to us.

• Dutch Embassy Dakar

• Stimuleringsfonds

Creatieve Industrie

We will receive fi nancing

from the municipality of

Yene. The local foundation

Pencum Dialaw is being

set up and working on

detailed (budget) plans.

The Lions Club in Beilen

is the main sponsor of our

upcoming project at the

central market.

We are honoured to be

one of the fi rst projects

supported by One to Share.

We wish them success

with their innovative

concept.

Work In Progress

Our Ambassadors

mogelijkmakers

4

Aide Gandiole wishes to develop the primary school in Pilot-Gandiole (North Senegal) into a model school. We are asked to make designs for their upcoming projects. To determine the looks and locations we involve the staff in imagining

the near and far future. This results in a plan on how the school can expand now and in the upcoming decades. It also shapes the designs we make for a principal’s offi ce with adjoining classroom and the repainting of the existing

buildings. Both projects have been realised recently, we will drive up there soon and take (good) pictures.

entrance

ROAD

optional future functions

existing

new

administration building

sports fi eld

new classroom 2015

future classrooms

construction allows for building two classrooms on the fi rst fl oor

Ecole pilotte

5

Co-designing

During several visits we spoke to the principal and teachers to discuss the placement of the principal’s offi ce and new classroom, the sports fi eld, green zones and future growth. A map of the current situation was used together with movable pieces of paper to represent all these features. The pros and cons were discussed for the many different possibilities offering a large amount of input for a placement proposal and phasing on how the school can expand.

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Teachers is

discussing our discussing our discussing our

proposalsproposalsproposals

The existing

classrooms

Looking

at class

overviews in

the directors

current ‘offi ce’

7

North Elevation East Elevation(cutting through new classroom)

South Elevation(cutting through new classroom)

West Elevation

Plan

Plan and Elevations | A3Project: Administration building école primaire Pilote

Gandiol | Senegal

Designed by: Studio PlacemakersYène Kao | Senegal

Scale:Date: 28-04-2015

1:50

Painting the classrooms

Aide Gandiole wants to create a new

look for the school by repainting the

front sides of the classrooms. They ask

us to make a design that is cheerful and

unique. Also, it should be possible for

a good local painter to realise without

supervision. To fi nd inspiration we talk

to the staff to grasp what they are proud

of, what makes up the local identity and

what is seen as beautiful.

The colours and shapes create a

continuity that pulls together the

fragmented styles of the different

buildings. To help the painter every

line is straight between a specifi c

starting and fi nishing point. The colours

are chosen to refl ect the natural

surroundings. Creating meaning and

allowing for bright colours while still

blending in with the environment.

Yellow is the sand which is everywhere

in Gandiole, it is also the sun. Because

the village is surrounded by seasonal

salty lakes there is not much green, the

school has trees and these are highly

appreciated. Blue is the sea just around

the corner and matches the sky. Light

brown and white are already present

and are blended into the design, they

continue on the unpainted parts of the

buildings

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Principal’s offi ce

The principal has no real offi ce, with

the materials available he has made a

working space which functions during

the long dry season. Files are stored

in classrooms, when it rains he also

works there. To make a design for the

offi ce we talk about his daily activities,

important moments and role as

principal.

First Floor | A3 REVISEDProject: Administration building école primaire Pilote

Gandiol | Senegal

Designed by: Studio PlacemakersYène Kao | Senegal

Scale:Date: 15-06-2015

1:25

5300

200 8402755.8

150 1350 200

1000

200 830 320

180

1660

150

830

180

2820

1100

1780

120

630

840

110

1290

120

1290

11101040

classroom

The offi ce overlooks the entire school

including the main entrance. All

furniture is built in, there is space for

guests and the backside of the offi ce

is used for storage. The ‘umbrella roof’

creates a cooler inside climate. The

second roof shades the interior roof

and the tilted angle creates air fl ow. The

adjoining classroom will be ‘standard’,

but the design allows for defi ning the

placement, connection and some visual

continuity in details.

9

HomebaseStudio

Placemakers

12 With YeneBlog January - February 2016

18 Neighbours and neccessities

9 Tires and mudBlog December 2015

10

So much has happened in one month’s time

that this is an exceptionally long blog.

Please forgive us and enjoy.

At the end of November the two of us are

back together in Yene after a long stay in the

Netherlands. Roos has already been in Senegal

for a month. She has been preparing the

projects for 2016 and getting everything ready

for building our home-office-workshop. As Studio

Placemakers this will be our biggest project:

more people involved, more building time and

more expenses (around €10.000). Let’s go!

We would like to introduce you to our great

five-man local team. In short: Aziz, Wuz,

Mamadou, Mam Gour and Medoun. Each of

them stand out in their own way. They will

learn and build with us from start to finish. The

new skills they learn could lead to other work

and will be valuable for our future projects.

3000 Ecomen have pioneered building with

old car tires in Senegal and Morocco. To build

the foundation they give a weeklong workshop

to our team and us. During the week we

are trained as we work and get a large part

of the foundation done. The building site

immediately gets a lot of attention. Nobody in

Yene has ever seen anything like this before.

While the local team continue stacking tires the ‘cob

crew’ arrives in Yene a week before the workshop

starts. We are six in total (us included), a coincidental

mix that makes an amazing team. Together we

will host a monthlong workshop led by Claudine

Desiree. Eight Senegalese and nine international

students will learn all aspects of cob (earth-sand-

straw) by building a large part of our house. With

only a week to make sure they can all build, learn,

eat, sleep and be happy... we get straight to work.

Our joined effort pays off when one by one the

foreign participants arrive. Their enthusiasm and

appreciation makes up for all the frustrations that

are part of working with a deadline in Senegal.

They each chose to learn cob for reasons

connected to their larger ambitions in life, making

this possible is special. Besides learning cob this

experience is also about discovering ‘Africa’. Most

of them have been to this part of the world before.

The first days of the workshop we realise what

we are up to. More than twenty people on a

construction site learning new skills in the hot sun.

Chaotic, cheerful and sweaty! If the tires didn’t

already catch everyone’s attention, this surely does.

TIRES AND MUDEND 2015

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While we work on the foundations and

fl oors we are surrounded by curiosity.

So much that we decide to have a local

‘communicator’ to give explanations.

The second week it is time to cob!

Imagine: men and women of all age

groups and origins stomping their feet

in the mud. The fun of building with

earth and the unique feeling of working

together beyond cultural differences

is felt by everyone. In a strange

way, it seems ultimately logical. The

construction site continues to be a

showcase for all who pass by. “Amun

ciment?” “Yes, no cement at all.”

They knock against the rockhard wall

and shake their head in amazement.

Building with cob is often promoted

for being ecological and cheap. In

Yene the economic benefi t has a

large social bonus. Using cob means

low material costs and much more

labour, this turns around the economic

dimensions of construction. What if

every new building would create two

or three times more work? This creates

employment and the money circulates

locally, unlike purchasing cement and

steel. Also, those with little money

can build slowly themselves, the long

rainless season is perfect for this.

Back to the reality of having a

construction site and workshop

simultaneously. Sand is nearly fi nished,

how about the water? We need more

buckets too. Lunch is late again.

Whoops, no, that should be there.

Drinking water or building water? Both

fi nished, ok... Yes, we will go there

tomorrow, do you need anything else?

Hello sir, thank you for visiting, I’ll be

with you in a minute. If the doorframes

are not ready tomorrow what will we

do? Continue the fl oors while we wait...

However hectic and tiring, we are

energised by all the dedicated students

and the knowledge that this project

is showing what is possible with

local capital. Hard work, old tires and

earth can build a home. In Yene we

are doing this with around 40 hands

and feet at a time and speaking

to each other in seven languages.

Thank you 3000 Ecoman for

building the foundation with us!

Coincidently, we

will celebrate

Mohammed’s

day of birth only

one day before

Christmas. We are

in good company

for this brotherly

twist of fate. We

wonder with who

we will be next

time this happens.

And what it will

be like here in 36

years?

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Group meals are an important part of Group meals are an important part of Group meals are an important part of

the workshop. Lunch is the big meal the workshop. Lunch is the big meal the workshop. Lunch is the big meal

with around 25 people. The family with around 25 people. The family with around 25 people. The family

Gueye prepares lunch and dinner, Gueye prepares lunch and dinner, Gueye prepares lunch and dinner,

in the morning our great German in the morning our great German in the morning our great German

volunteer Sissy makes the best volunteer Sissy makes the best volunteer Sissy makes the best

scrambled eggs and porridges. scrambled eggs and porridges. scrambled eggs and porridges.

Mixing cob is done with Mixing cob is done with

your feet, it’s like a dance.

The interior foundations are

made with local stones and

cement.

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WITH YENESTART 2016

New Years Eve is also the farewell party of

the cob workshop. After a month of learning

and building together everyone is thankful,

physically tired and sad it’s over. It’s hard

to sum up this very valuable monthlong

experience. Especially having heard the

personal stories of both the local and

international participants. You simply had to

be part of it. Thank you everyone involved!

Jerejef!!

Not anytime soon! But one day we hope to

organise a long creative workshop with people

from Yene and abroad again. First ideas?

How about creating a multifunctional park in

December 2018... Not yet a plan, but we are

open to inscriptions.

Being back in Yene for some time now, what

stands out most about living here is how people

are a community. Niofar, as they say: we are

together. It is embedded in each and everyone’s

identity and defines the way life is lived. As we

stayed in Yene longer this sense of community

has also been extended towards us. Experiencing

this shift made us confident we want to live here

and can live here. We are now actually building

our home and we notice this changes the way

people perceive us. We are taking a step up on

the ‘ladder of niofar’, you could say. We don’t live

in Yene anymore, but with Yene.

Two of the most valuable people to us are

Aziz Thiom and Ousseynou Ba. Aziz can

communicate, organise, transport and fix

anything, Wuz can build anything. Even more

important, they are examples to us of how good

character goes a long way, it makes the community

lift you up. We are happy to have them on our

local five-man team who have been working with

us since the foundation. After the monthlong cob

workshop we continue building.

We are extremely lucky with another most valuable

person on our side. Oliver Goshey came to Yene as

assistant for the cob workshop and decided to stay

until the building is finished. He is leading the local

team building upon the skills learned during the

workshop. Oliver is there full-time, so we can focus

on the roof, doors and preparing and organising

everything needed to keep on building. As much as

possible we make time to do other important work.

The cob workshop was an all-in rollercoaster ride,

so there is a lot to catch up with.

The walls go up, the roof grows, the walls are

plastered, the doors installed and it is really starting

to look like a home. By then it is the end of January

and we have to move in. Even though we are

living between a storage on a construction site it

is amazing to spend our whole days and nights in

a surrounding we have designed and constructed.

As the building took shape there was always a

constant flow of (regular) visitors. Now that they

have a better picture of the end result we receive

generous amounts of compliments and blessings.

We have shown that we are capable of a building

project like this. Like us, they look forward to what

else is possible.

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Cob is perfect to shape features and integrate other mate- Cob is perfect to shape features and integrate other mate- Cob is perfect to shape features and integrate other mate-

rials. (Tires are used as scaffolding when the walls get high)rials. (Tires are used as scaffolding when the walls get high)rials. (Tires are used as scaffolding when the walls get high)

Plumbing and electricity is integrated into the wallsPlumbing and electricity is integrated into the wallsPlumbing and electricity is integrated into the walls

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Making concrete slabs for the kitchen counter Making concrete slabs for the kitchen counter

The counter is fi nished with white cement and The counter is fi nished with white cement and

epoxy (there are limits to natural building).epoxy (there are limits to natural building).

Sand, soil and horse poop are sifted for Sand, soil and horse poop are sifted for Sand, soil and horse poop are sifted for

the fi ne plaster layerthe fi ne plaster layerthe fi ne plaster layer

Applying the plasters Applying the plasters Applying the plasters

The upper roof is an The upper roof is an The upper roof is an

independent structure made independent structure made independent structure made

of steel and durable ‘aluzinc’ of steel and durable ‘aluzinc’ of steel and durable ‘aluzinc’

sheets. When it is done a sheets. When it is done a sheets. When it is done a

translucent plastic roof will be

placed as lower roof on the

building. 17

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SPIN OFFMaybe even more important than the results, to us, is the spin-off of our

projects. Showing what is possible is already inspiring, time will have to

tell how many people follow this example. Many local people have shown

an interest in building with cob, either for a whole house or simply an extra

room. Our local team hopes to have a new source of work and they are even

making plans to become a company. In this country it is easy to have big

plans but much harder to follow them up consistently. We are curious and

hope they succeed.

Aziz Thiom is part of the team and he asked how to use cob as a second

fl oor on his roof. We knew he was serious when only a few days later he

ordered sand and bought straw. Since then he has been making the walls

higher every weekend with family and friends. We asked him several times

how he will do the roof, knowing his budget is small. “I’ll sort it out,” kept

being his response. He organised his wood, a left over piece here and a

found piece there. He will thatch it himself with local straw. It will not win

a beauty contest, but it works! Total costs will be around €300 for a room

with small bathroom.

More than we can ever be, Aziz is a local inspiration showing that it is

possible to build with natural materials. Soon he will have a place to be away

from the bustling family life downstairs, with fi ve kids himself, his brothers

family and always people from here and there. And in Yene there are many

empty rooftops, with people wishing to expand their living space.

To be continued...

Neighbouring kids Neighbouring kids

start to use cob to make

miniature castles

Aziz stamping COB

with his kids

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NEIGHBOURS AND NECCESSITIES

PANORAMA

FAM. DIOUFWATER

SUPPLY

FAM. GUEYE STORAGE

FAM. CISSEELECTRICITY

30M.

our plot

20

In our most recent blog we write

about the concept of niofar: we are

together. A very practical side of this

is helping each other out. Before

building, our nearest neighbours

have all offered to be there in case we

need anything.

Getting official water and electricity

connections can be very expensive,

especially when you are presumed to

have money (drive a 4x4 and/or have

light skin). This is a notorious problem

driving many people beyond frustration.

Luckily there are unofficial ways to be

connected, you talk to your neighbours

and together you fix it Senegalaisement.

The family Cissé live closest to us and

have electricity. We will not need it until

we build the roof, but we discuss the

situation well in advance. Mr. Cissé is

old but surely still head of the family.

He is glad to help out and the next day

we are measuring the shortest route to

run a cable. We are still a bit concerned

about this being illegal. “Ask anybody

around, the name Cissé is respected

here. Nobody will ever fine you or me.”

The nearest house with a water

connection is the family Diouf. We

hadn’t met yet but they have heard

about us and seen our projects. At first

they are surprised we (as toubabs) can’t

afford the official water or a well (around

€900 and €1500). When we explain our

plans and budget restrictions they are

happy to let us install a pipe from their

house. “For as long as you need, don’t

worry.”

The family Gueye lives to the other side

of our house. Before we start building

they offer us their enclosed garden to

store our tools and materials during

the night. That would be very useful!

As the project develops the three

wheelbarrows start overflowing with

buckets, spades and other tools. We

excuse ourselves to Mr. Gueye but

apologies are not accepted. “I said you

could use the garden, didn’t I? By the

way, I heard you are storing the wood

at your rented house, why didn’t you

put it here?” Interesting... you come to

say sorry for taking too much and leave

feeling bad about not fully taking the

help offered. So the next day we move

part of the wood to the garden and also

ask if we could store the steel for the

roof which is coming soon. “Of course”,

followed by a meaningful nod that we

got the message: niofar. “As long as we

can reach the water well it’s fine, I know

what it’s like to build.” In the already full

garden he shows where we can make

room for the 6 meter lengths of steel

and points out other spaces we could

still use.

A cynic might say our neighbours are

smart and help out of self-interest. Of

course, we will help back. Over the long

run there is a win-win for everyone.

That is not self-interest but community.

Knowing the difficulties many people

have building in Senegal we are

fortunate. Sure, we have our frustration

and set-backs, but we are moving along

with the help of many.

The family Cissé was the first to move to this area more than twenty years

ago, when everyone still lived close to the sea. Parts of the hillside had been

cleared for mango trees and planting millet or peanuts in the rainy season.

But nobody lived there, it was dangerous. The family Cissé were pioneers

on ‘the other side of the road’. They were kept company by the monkeys at

day and the hyenas at night. Over the years the original village grew and got

stuck in between the road and the sea. Slowly but steadily, from the road

up, the family Cissé saw the hillside become a new neighbourhood. Hyenas

have not been sighted for a long time, the monkeys have moved away and

only pass by in the rainy season looking for ripe mango’s on the trees that

are still standing. This is only the beginning, Mr. Cissé knows. “In ten years

it’s full here, there are more new construction sites every year.” Going up

to the top of the softly sloping hill the foundations, walls and (half) finished

buildings scatter out gradually until there are none. Looking down there is a

wave coming.

google earth 2003 google earth 2016

Mr. CisseMr. Cisse

our plot

21

Design tribune

VIP seats

2 X 200 ‘seats’

Stadium GandiolStadium Gandiol

location. We are asked to make a design

that fi ts all requirements and wishes.

The stadium will be built in 2016/17.

A surrounding stadium wall and

fence around the fi eld are standard.

Most of the crowd stands around the

fence, offering at least 1000 people

a good view. The tribune hosts 400

spectators, including a VIP area (a must

in Senegal!). The roof gives shade in

the afternoon when most matches are

Very often proper sports facilities are

lacking. For local teams to compete

in the regional football competition

they need to have an ‘offi cial’ stadium.

This is also the case in Gandiol (North

Senegal). Over the years Aide Gandiole

has built up a relationship with the

different local teams and worked

towards the realisation of a common

stadium. After a long process the

local government appointed a suitable

Senegal is a country of sports. It is hard to underestimate the importance of football and lute, an immensely popular wrestling style. Late afternoons both sports are practised on any open space somewhat allowing for it. Every day this radiates a positive and active energy, it is one of Senegal’s strengths.

played. Under the tribune there are two

dressing rooms and a toilet, something

exceptional for stadiums this size. The

outside wall will be fi nished with a

durable rough cement called terroyen,

mixed with local pigments. The name

of the stadium will be made with big

letters that are recessed in the terroyen.

We propose to work with 3000 Ecomen

to build all foundations with tires. This

22

Design tribune

VIP seats

2 X 200 ‘seats’

5800

13000

2200

650

6700

4000

600

400

2000

600

2300

2300

Section tribune 1:100

Detail of letter recessed in terroyen.

can be a community project involving

the football teams and schools. It is

a lot of work, but it’s also cheaper

and it saves a lot of cement. The tires

can be fi lled up with plastic garbage

that is now scattered all around the

surrounding area.

23

A multitude of daily activities make

the fish market of Yene Kao a central

place of the community. There is a

little building where both the men and

women work, it is crowded. At the end

of 2014 we made plans with the women

to improve their working conditions.

We reclaimed a garbage dump area

next to the crowded building to create

a new shaded place. According to the

women it was “too beautiful to do dirty

work”. Over time the men moved out

of the building and now use the new

place as office and meeting room for

their work as traders of exportable

marine products. Not the plan, but all

the same, everyone has more shaded

space to work. The men keep the area

tidy and regularly water the tree and

plants.

After a year the original shade sails

made with rice bags have deteriorated.

It was an experiment with cheap local

material. We had hoped it would last

longer, but the constant sunlight and

sea breeze do there work quickly. We

make use of the opportunity to have

bigger sails offering more shade. This is

highly appreciated given all the current

‘group office’ activity.

UPGRADING THE FISH MARKET

project 2014 project planned for 2016

We buy second-hand truck tarp in Dakar and get it made into

sails on the spot. 24

The upgrading of the worn down

fish market building where the

women work is planned for 2016

current situation

impression new situation

The new sails are installed using the suspended ropes still there

25

THE MARKETThe market area of Yene is an example of

uninformed development aid. Currently it is underutilised and unattractive. However, with

the growth of Yene it has great potential to become a true central market: a lively place

fi lled with commercial and social activity. The future is now, so let’s start placemaking…

26

1.

2.

1.

3.

3.

2.

Around ten years ago international

funding was given to the Senegalese

government to create and improve

market places. In some towns the right

location was chosen and the design

met local demands. These markets

are succesful. But much too often the

new buildings were never used or have

been abandoned. If the market already

existed as place it often continued

as before but now around an empty

building or just in front along the road.

In Yene the outcome is mixed. There

was already an old market building being

actively used. Next to it rows of small

shops were added and a surrounding

wall was built to create a large market

area. At the moment only the old main

building is in use. All the small shops

are closed and the market area is

completely empty. As a whole it looks

impoverished and uninviting. Taking a

long-term perspective there is a lot of

dormant potential to accommodate

future growth. The surrounding wall

offers possibilities that can already be

put to use right now. By doing this the

current users of the market can create

an appealing atmosphere and a sense

of opportunity.

27

Every morning around thirty women

sell the main supplies for Senegalese

cooking in the main building. While

spending time to understand daily

activities and dynamics we get to know

the women one by one and collect their

ideas to improve the market area.

We put many of these ideas together

in a realistic plan that can be achieved

step by step over fi ve years time. For

now we start with step one, based on

the frequently heard wish of having

trees and small agriculture. We present

the fi rst designs in a group meeting

and get good response and useful

feedback. We also propose to improve

the visibility of the market from the

main road by painting the entrance and

making a sign by the road. This will be

designed together.

The women take turns to buy products collectively. To be back on time, they leave to outer Dakar at 4AM.

The days after the presentation we

discuss details and everyone chooses

their prefered tree and crop. Each

woman will be responsible for her own

circle. We will supply the tools and

materials and make the circles with

them. The small trees will be bought

at different orchards and given for free.

We will buy large packets of high quality

crop seeds and sell small amounts to

the women for affordable prices.

28

29

30

Overview of the women and

their personal preferences

Currently goats and sheep enter the market area all the time making it impossible to grow plants and trees. Nearly as important, they also steal vegetables from the women. The small gate on the left will close by itself to prevent the animals from entering. The main gate will be made functional again and to enhance visibility it will be lower.

current situation

current situation

impression of new entrance (without painting)

impression of new market area in 5 years time31

32