Solar Well in Senegal, West African Architecture, Design Africa, Images
Solar Well in Senegal
West African Architecture – design by Raoul Vecchio Architect
7 Jan 2019
Solar Well
Design: Raoul Vecchio Architect
Location: Sambacounda village, Senegal, Africa
Solar Well
The architecture surrounds the well to protect and give value to the water resource. The design is light and delicate, in strong relation with the natural context. Walls don?t create a closed space, but they include the context in the interior space. A system of wooden beams obtained with a local essence, is achieved by overlapping elements bolted to reach the necessary light (6 meters).

The beams aims to perceptively protect the internal space that becomes a place for socializing and meditation, but also to create an evocative play of shadows. We want to reverse the image of the well, which is no longer the place to “take the water and go away”, but a space in which to stop and get to know the resource to enhance it. The well is not covered, because the filtering system is capable of eliminating any polluting element.
The flooring is covered by a mat normally used to delimit the prayer spaces or the intimate spaces of the houses. The installation of the mat has created a form of respect for the well space, which is therefore also used as a place of prayer. To accentuate this spiritual role on the floor, a slight sign has been created that indicates the direction of the Quibla, being the ...