Abstract:
In the Stone Town of Zanzibar, a World Heritage Site, the
amalgamation of various cultures has created a complex architectural
as well as cultural heritage. Public space is regarded as male space
due to the strong Islamic legacy, and currently women have very limited
access to public or recreational spaces, despite prominent spaces
having been available for their exclusive use historically. However,
cultural practices are slowly changing as women are gaining better
access to education, the workplace and decision-making roles, and are
thus moving into the public realm. The project investigates the potential
of architecture to react to and accommodate this shift. Gender roles
are acknowledged as valuable social constructs and the project aims
to facilitate the creation of a living, changing heritage. This proposal
for a women’s centre in Stone Town draws from both the tangible
and intangible heritage to develop a contemporary interpretation of
traditional values and aesthetics while aiming to empower women in
their quest to reclaim public space. The project is located on a street
that had formed part of a previous planning scheme to incorporate
vehicles into the dense town, and had subsequently developed as
a scar in the urban fabric. A public square that has fallen into disuse
due to illegal construction and an enclosed garden next to it offers the
opportunity to revitalise the area. The proposed project will consist
of areas that afford the following activities, each suitably designed to
respond to and maximise the gender-related needs and restrictions
of the activities: demonstration workshops, shops, restaurant and
demonstration kitchen, offi ce space, study area and library, turkish
bath, swimming pool, and various garden spaces. The architecture will
explore the application of traditional technologies in the construction of
contemporary buildings in order to develop an architectural language
that fi ts harmoniously within its surroundings but contributes to the
legacy of outstanding architecture in Stone Town.
