The centre is designed to reinforce the sense of community and cultural identity in the village of Saba, which was rebuilt on higher land after the tsunami of 1996. The building is made to resist strong winds and seismic activity. The columns, beams and flooring are of coconut wood, which grows in abundance around the village; the traditional curved roof, like the shell of a turtle, is made of corrugated metal recycled from the old village; and the walls are plastered woven bamboo. The construction process was guided by a local NGO who trained and involved the whole community in the building.

Source:

The Aga Khan Trust for Culture, 2011.