Ville Nouvelle de Yennenga

Drawing on its ancestral culture, this culturally vibrant city will accommodate a fine arts center, several places of worship, a conference center and a stud farm, as a tribute to the country’s equestrian tradition and in memory of Yennenga, the warrior princess. The project follows the terrain and adapts to the climatic conditions of the region. In the north, the tallest buildings reduce the impact of the Harmattan, a dry, dust-blowing wind. In the south, a sparser layout of houses allows the mild and humid monsoon winds to cool the city. The contemporary architectural designs are inspired by the traditional forms of Burkinabe housing.

Ecologically, Yennenga has been designed as a self-sufficient city that generates its own energy and produces the materials necessary for its operation. Control of winds, along with the use of solar energy and the recycling and reuse of water demonstrate this concern for energetic self-sufficiency and are the hallmarks of a “virtuous cycle” of design. The project includes numerous landscaping features that preserve and augment the density of the existing tree population. This new vegetation pattern and the bioclimatic comfort provided by flowering plants are essential for an optimum quality of life. The local species present at the site will be supplemented by a range of plant varieties adapted to the West African climate.