The shade of a new canopy has brought to life an existing amphitheatre, built by a company to provide recreational and cultural opportunities for its employees. Summertime temperatures of up to 50°C, minimal rainfall and a relatively high risk of earthquakes were all factors influencing the design. Construction was undertaken by local workmen, using readily available materials: the membrane is 400 gsm Egyptian cotton with canvas binding, the columns are 'wrecked' oil pipeline tubes, and the wire tensile rope is of German origin. Reinforced concrete was used for the foundations.
Sekem Amphitheatre Canopy Presentation Panels. Courtesy of Architect. Geneva: Aga Khan Award for Architecture, 2007.
Description
In the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, projects enrolled in the nomination process are documented by the architect(s). In addition to submitting images and drawings, architects are asked to complete a detailed questionnaire pertaining to use, cost, environmental and climatic factors, construction materials, building schedule, and, more importantly, design concepts and each project's significance within its own context and to present the project in two A3 panels.
