Who shapes the current architecture of Dakar?

The Dakar architectural development project is being done without any real planning according to architects Annie Jouga and Cheikh Tidiane Seck. The city would be prey to the all-consuming ambitions of real estate developers, erecting R+X buildings where limitations were strict, notably one floor instead of several, as observed in the Point E and Fann neighborhoods. A time when the State still ensured a sustainable quality of life. As part of a debate moderated by Modibo Diawara, the futuristic but pessimistic vision of Djibril Diop Mambéty in 1967 was recalled: Dakar could seriously lose its architectural identity, moving away from an organization such as that of London.

Annie Jouga calls for mobilization between the State, professionals and civil society to develop an architecture consistent with the Dakar spatial framework. Less than 8% of current constructions are designed by architects, but, technically well done, they are not a direct threat to security, as Jouga points out. However, a potentially critical risk remains: overloading the peninsula could cause dangerous subsidence. Thus, it is urgent to initiate reforms to safeguard the architectural future of Dakar.