Fann Residence
Dakar, Senegal 2015
A few steps from the sea, on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, the neighborhood is nestled on a side of the western cornice, which runs along the city center of Dakar, ideally located, 10 minutes from the city center, near the main business centers and administrations. Fann is the district of diplomatic residences, with many embassies, housing of senior executives and Senegalese notables. Safety and permanent tranquility have made this district the most popular in the city. The plot is located in the diplomatic neighborhood of Fan/Dakar, facing the sea. The plot is 1600 sqm and the built-up space is 800 sqm. The villa’s concrete skeleton was already up, and the brief required a drastic makeover of the old scheme which negated completely the plot orientation and location. Most of the existing structural elements were removed and the interior layout was totally changed to accommodate the new brief. The interior opens to a floating terrace that extends to a Jacuzzi / pool.
The main facade acts as a binding element for the project and extends from the cantilevered entrance all the way to the upper levels. The main elements of the facade protrude inside the project and define the interior space creating well shaded clusters and double height ceilings. The landscape acts as an extension to the interior space and wraps around the pool to give the user an infinite view around the building. Local stone cladding was mechanically fixed and cut on site to seamlessly cover the concrete. The ground floor level hosts the living space as well as the dining space, the kitchen and technical services and facilities. The ground floor also extends to the outside creating an outdoor kitchen, a main event area rooted in the culture of Dakar. The upper level revolves around a central living space and four master bedrooms occupying the building’s corners. The canopy above the main entrance extends to the left side of the building to become a terrace for the upper level. It is a cantilevered object that completes the composition along with the floating terrace on top of the pool.
