The project consisted of cataloguing and documenting all relevant modern buildings and projects in Tanzania that were realized in the period around independence (1950-1970).
Introduction
Modern architecture appeared as a new and double-faced phenomenon in architecture and urbanism in East Africa during the 1950’s and 1960’s. At the end of the colonial period (1950’s), this architecture was often the preferred expression of the intended colonial welfare state, whereas after independence (1960’s) the new state and its institutions relied upon it to convey the hope, strength and optimism of the new African nation.
Today there is little systematic knowledge about this architecture in East Africa. Despite growing interest in the entanglement of modernism, colonialism and the post-colonial condition, we still lack documentary sources on a large part of this history as well as information about the reception and appropriation of this heritage up to the present.
This project consisted of a study on modern architecture in Tanzania around independence (1950-1970) in its local and international context. Architectural, social, cultural and political aspects were studied. A number of projects were selected from the modern heritage in Tanzania, consisting of public buildings (such as schools, churches and offices), housing projects and urban designs.
"The work of the architect Anthony Almeida formed an important part of the selected projects. Almeida was one of the first to introduce modern architecture in his country; he produced numerous high-quality buildings throughout the founding period of the Tanzanian nation. He is still alive and his archives are fully available for investigation. The work and archives of architects Sukhi Shah, Beda Amuli, French, Hastings, Covell Matthews and others were also studied.
The project was developed in close collaboration with the Architects’ Association of Tanzania (AAT) in Dar es Salaam, the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven and the Delft University of Technology (TUD). Professors, lecturers and students all took part in the project.
The project team was formed by:
ArchiAfrika:
coordination: Joep Mol and Berend van der Lans
project assistent: Stephanie Geertman
AAT:
Subira Mchumo
TU/e:
Prof. Bruno De Meulder, ir. Jos Bosman
KU Leuven:
Prof. Hilde Heynen, Jean-Marc Basyn
TUD:
ir. Janneke Bierman, ir. Frank Koopman
Description
The project consisted of cataloguing and documenting of all relevant modern buildings and projects in Tanzania that were realized in the period around independence (1950-1970).
By analyzing this work we acquired knowledge on:
- The rise of modern architecture in Tanzania in the 1950’s and 1960’s and its role in the development of local architecture;
- The position of modern architecture in Tanzania in relation to the
architecture of the international Modern Movement;
- Modern heritage in Tanzania in its cultural, social and political context
The analysis led to conclusions on the value of the studied work from a historical and contemporary perspective.
Workshop and Conference July 11th - July 29th 2005 Dar es Salaam
From 11 July until 27 July 2005, the workshop was held at the Baobab Village at Msasani Peninsular in Dar es Salaam. The conclusive conference took place between 27 and 29 July.
During the workshop in Dar es Salaam, specific examples of Modern Architecture in Tanzania around Independence have been documented and analysed. Students from UCLAS and different European universities worked together and were coached by professors, tutors and specialists from different countries.
The conference continued with a broader focus on the architectural heritage of the Modern Movement around independence (1950-1970) in East Africa.
