Tena Tower Project at Tena Lakes, Burkina Faso by Manuelle Gautrand Architecture

Tena Tower Project by architect Manuelle Gautrand is mainly up-market residential, and proposes to mix different type of housings with a hotel, offices and a lot of equipments like a swimming pool, some restaurants, a SPA-fitness place, a conference center, sports facilities (Golf and tennis club).

This new district tries to place the human being in the center of the preoccupations, to anticipate an exemplary way of life deeply connected to the country, and to be innovative in the way of creating a sustainable place. The goal is to be energy-self sufficient, using the less water as possible, the power of the photovoltaic cells and all the screens which are created everywhere to totally protect from the sun. The project has to be a landmark for the country, an exemplary one in terms of innovation and sustainability.

The formation of the landscape is central to the design’s concept. The pre-existing natural environment is emphasized and a new lake, using ground water, is proposed. The new programmatic functions are placed within the new landscape in a concentric manner located in a 96m high tower, 80 villas around the lake and various small buildings spread on the site. The landscape’s geometry is inspired by the plumage of a peacock. Each oval, emphasized by a dense array of trees, focuses on specific programmatic functions.

The iconic centerpiece of the project, the tower, is wrapped in a ‘lace’ of metallic panels that filters the direct sunlight and allows the use of the terraces and open air spaces. A similar screening strategy is appropriated in the design of the villas creating terraces and sheltered open spaces. Green dominates the project, from the elaborate plantation to the green-coloured sustainability-oriented ‘lace’ shed of the tower, imposing the overall sustainable design of the project.