2014

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This project is part of the redevelopment of some central arteries of the city center of Libreville, dedicated to offices and business centers. The brief asked for an eight stories office and mix uses building for the national insurance authority headquarters. An urban façade able to display a certain level of sobriety yet highlighting an institutional function was the main architectural exercise at hand.

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Other than that, there was a choice to temper the modernity of floor to ceiling bow windows-like opening with the brick face cladding. The brick cladding brings an atemporal expression to the building. It also weathers the slickness of the curtain wall and gentles the contrast to the surrounding urban context. The main façade faces west to the waterfront and has operable windows that allow simplicity in dealing with climate and ventilation. The openings are generous and large enough to adapt to either large open spaces or more cluttered settings inside. Generally, there is a fair amount of natural lighting in whatever interior space.

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Overall it is a modular building rendered expressively complex and meaningful in terms of its architecture and the meaning of an institutional language.