Hussein Bakri, the “humanist” architect of Akon City
The Akon City project in Senegal.
© Hussein Bakri
Text by: Nicolas Keraudren Follow
5 mins
Hussein Bakri is the Lebanese architect responsible for the design of the Akon City project in Senegal.
We met him in the United Arab Emirates, where he lives.
This “citizen of the world” told us about his philosophy of architecture.
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“
I am surprised by your request
”.
These are the first words used by Hussein Bakri when we met him in Dubai, the emirate where he settled more than ten years ago to create his own consulting firm.
Indeed, the 46-year-old Lebanese architect is not used to media columns.
"
That's not what I'm looking for
" modestly confides the man who was chosen by the American rapper of Senegalese origin, Alioune Badara Thiam said Akon, to design the ultramédiatized project Akon City.
A megalomaniac project?
What the architect is looking for is rather to leave an imprint, he tells us.
With Akon City, "
I am also happy to be able to design something that contributes to the development of the country
" continues the architect.
However, the project did not necessarily always have good press.
Some people call it a megalomaniac.
While others blame the socio-cultural imbalances that this project could cause.
The city of the future Akon City will indeed be built in a rural area located around one hundred kilometers from Dakar.
"
Mr. Akon met with the local populations to explain to them that this project is first and foremost for them
" wishes to clarify Hussein Bakri.
In addition, “
some did not understand why my client did not choose an architect from the continent.
I tell them that architecture is a universal language.
You can certainly understand the culture of a country perfectly, but does that mean that you will represent it ideally?
".
Hussein Bakri, the architect of the Akon City project in Senegal.
© Nicolas Keraudren
Diamniadio Lake City
Hussein Bakri is also not unknown to the African continent.
He, who was trained in the United States, developed his first projects in the English-speaking countries of the continent.
Particularly in Kenya and Tanzania.
It was not until 2017 that he discovered French-speaking Africa and in particular Senegal.
Even if he speaks neither Wolof nor French, he then becomes the chief architect of a project as publicized as Akon City: Diamniadio Lake City.
Another city of the future whose construction is planned on the outskirts of Dakar.
To feed his inspirations, he then visited the land of Teranga.
His passage in the House of Slaves on the island of Gorée seems to have marked him.
“
I sat next to the Gate of the No Return Trip for 45 minutes to soak up the place.
At that moment, I said to myself
: 'this is where we have to make the difference'
”.
For Hussein Bakri, architecture is therefore a philosophy.
“
You have to live the architecture.
It is neither more nor less than a feeling which translates into a structure
”.
He does not like to be reduced to his job.
A simple "
envelope
" he believes.
He describes himself first of all as a "creator" who claims to place people at the heart of his projects.
“
When I create something, the final result doesn't interest me that much.
On the other hand, I appreciate the process for achieving the identity I want to give to the project,
”he adds.
Wakanda and the baobab
The fictitious country Wakanda has also often been cited as an example to talk about Akon City.
"
The futuristic aspect of this city indeed facilitates the comparison
" explains Hussein Bakri who however denies the inspiration.
"
Akon City is a utopia of nature,
" he said, however.
The architect was indeed inspired by the physical elements that make up Senegalese nature.
In particular the baobab, a symbol which also appears on the coat of arms of Senegal.
He was also inspired by the waves hitting the Senegalese coastline and the country's emblematic animals such as the oryx gazelle.
The video released at the end of the presentation of the project to the press last September includes all of these elements.
“
We use nature to protect it,
” he sums up in a few words.
Akon City
This project is also a way of "
giving Senegal its own architectural style
".
The Lebanese architect promises moreover, without giving more details, "
other projects will come
".
Akon City key figures
- The first development phase, which should be completed in 2023, will cover 55 hectares.
By the end of the decade, the complex is expected to span 514 hectares
- The cost of the smart city is estimated at 6 billion dollars
- According to Bakri & Associates Development (BAD) Consultants, the construction of Akon City could directly and indirectly create around 100,000 jobs
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