MATERIALS DATAS

Kaira Looro Architecture Competition

 SHELLS AND OYSTERS

Shells and oysters are collected on the banks of

the Casamance river, the shells of which are col-
lected to be resold for decorative purposes or
as an inert material for cement. Both uses are
slowly being abandoned, leaving the shells to be
used only for the creation of objects for com-
mercial use.

Local use

road decoration
construction

Features

impact reusable
resistance

Average sizes

4 cm 0,5 cm

Availability

regionally

Kaira Looro Architecture Competition Materials datas

 MANGROVE

The Casamance basin has one of the most im-

portant expanses of Mangroves. The plant is
used as firewood and leaves as a medicant. It fa-
vors the production of oysters and the conser-
vation of a climate useful for the reproduction
of the flora and fauna of the river. In recent ye-
ars, mangrove plantations are used to limit co-
astal erosion.

Local use

road concrete
construction production

Features

flexibility traditional
medicine

Average sizes

5 cm 2m

Availability

regionally

Kaira Looro Architecture Competition Materials datas

 WASTE MATERIALS

The streets of the villages or in the areas in front

of the houses are often collected and burned
waste such as plastics, fabrics, tires, broken bins
etc. Sporadically the waste is collected and tran-
sported to landfills which are subsequently bur-
ned in the open air causing pollution and soil
contamination. Such waste can, however, con-
stitute a resource to be reused and regenerated
through a recycling process.

Local use

rubbish dump

Features

polluting flammable malodorous

Average sizes

not specified

Availability

locally

Kaira Looro Architecture Competition Materials datas

 CRUSHED STONE

The area develops in sandy lateritic soil. Lateri-

te quarries are present where large boulders are
extracted (without the use of machinery) sub-
sequently crushed and sieved to obtain crushed
stone. The material is mainly used for the con-
struction of roads or dams.

Local use

road concrete
construction production

Features

impact
resistance

Average sizes

5 cm

Availability

locally

Kaira Looro Architecture Competition Materials datas

 ROSEWOOD

The rosewood tree today risks instinct, however

local authorities manage the cutting according
to determined hierarchies and bureaucracies
trying to control desertification. This type of
wood is used in the form of planks especially
for the production of furniture such as beds and
sofas.

Local use

forniture

Features

resistance

Average sizes

3 cm 2m 20 cm

Availability

locally

Kaira Looro Architecture Competition Materials datas

 TIRES

In the absence of landfills the tires are thrown

into the river, on the roadside or burned in the
surroundings of the village. They constitute a
resource that can be reused to avoid pollution.

Local use

rubbish dump

Features

polluting

Average sizes

40 cm

Availability

locally

Kaira Looro Architecture Competition Materials datas

 LATERITE STONE

The area develops on sandy lateritic soil. Late-

rite quarries are present where large boulders
are extracted (without the use of machinery)
mainly used for the construction of roads and
dams.

Local use

road
construction

Features

impact
resistance

Average sizes

30 cm

Availability

regionally

Kaira Looro Architecture Competition Materials datas

 EARTH BRICKS

Building traditions made use of baked clay bri-

cks in the sun. Today these types of bricks have
been abandoned for cement and sand bricks.
Bricks made with earth are often stabilized with
cement.

Local use

fence building

Features

heavy

Average sizes

15 cm 20 cm 35 cm

Availability

locally

Kaira Looro Architecture Competition Materials datas

 BAMBU VULGARISA

Bamboo is a protected plant because it is in

extinction. The plant was once used for lu-
xury furnishings, therefore for the prominent
subjects of society. Today there are small reser-
ves of bamboo which require many authoriza-
tions and certain bureaucratic procedures to be
used.

Local use

forniture

Features

resistance flexibility

Average sizes

15 cm 5m

Availability

regionally

Kaira Looro Architecture Competition Materials datas

 BROKEN TILES

There are imported tiles that are used in con-

struction. Sometimes the scraps of these
broken tiles are reused in floors or decorations.

Local use

building

Features

fragile waterproof

Average sizes

5 cm 10 cm

Availability

locally

Kaira Looro Architecture Competition Materials datas

 CIMENT BRICK

This is the currently favorite material. These are

hollow or solid bricks made with a mixture of
sand and cement, inside an iron box. Today al-
most all buildings are made with these bricks.

Local use

fence building

Features

heavy cement
production

Average sizes

15 cm 20 cm 35 cm

Availability

locally

Kaira Looro Architecture Competition Materials datas

 ROSEWOOD BEAMS

Beams are produced for the construction of

roofs. The wood is quite hard and resistant to
termites because it is compact. The same wood,
in the form of planks, is used for the creation of
furnishings.

Local use

carpentry

Features

resistance

Average sizes

5 cm 2m 8 cm

Availability

locally

Kaira Looro Architecture Competition Materials datas

 FABRICS

Senegalese fabrics are a cultural and traction

emblem. Bright colors fill the streets and cere-
monies. The clothes with these fabrics are today
mainly used in ceremonies and on representa-
tive days.

Local use

tailoring decoration

Features

slow
elasticity

Average sizes

5m 1,5 m

Availability

regionally

Kaira Looro Architecture Competition Materials datas

 IRON FOR CONCRETE

Reinforcement iron for concrete of various

sections (6-8-12 mm) are available, used to
reinforce pillars and beams. The material is im-
ported from the north and some supplies often
deliver disposable and recycled irons with cha-
racteristics other than those declared.

Local use

building

Features

resistance durability

Average sizes

8 mm 6m

Availability

nationally

Kaira Looro Architecture Competition Materials datas

 BARBED WIRE

Barbed iron wires are produced in the north

and imported in the south of the country, they
are mainly used to create fences useful to pre-
vent the entry of thieves or to prevent the loss
of livestock.

Local use

fence

Features

resistance durability

Average sizes

80 m

Availability

nationally

Kaira Looro Architecture Competition Materials datas

 STRAW

Straw is a seasonal product that has always been

used in traditional house roofing. This use is
now being lost to the detriment of the sheets,
also because constant maintenance is required
and often in the laying method it is not possible
to totally protect from the rains.

Local use

roofing agricolture

Features

ecological cheap

Average sizes

1,5 m

Availability

locally

Kaira Looro Architecture Competition Materials datas

 PALM TRUNK

Desertification and human action are slowly

making palm forests disappear, which are the-
refore now protected and protected by the
authorities. Once they were used for the con-
struction of huts, beams and pillars. Today, with
the necessary safeguards and bureaucratic pro-
cedures, it is possible to have palm trunks in
small quantities.

Local use

building

Features

resistance termite

Average sizes

30 cm 4m

Availability

regionally

Kaira Looro Architecture Competition Materials datas

 BLACK CLAY

The valley is composed of a sandy clay bottom,

with a high organic content and polluting ele-
ment since rubble and waste are often thrown
into the river.

Local use

agricolture

Features

high clay
content

Average sizes

not available

Availability

locally

Kaira Looro Architecture Competition Materials datas

 BAGS

The bags are used for the packaging and tran-

sport of rice, peanuts and other agricultural
products. They are produced in Senegal with
polypropylene fabrics. The bags are sometimes
filled with sand and used to create banks and
erosion containments.

Local use

road agricolture
construction

Features

cheap

Average sizes

60 cm 90 cm

Availability

nationally

Kaira Looro Architecture Competition Materials datas

 WILD BAMBOO

Wild bamboo is found in local forests, it is

a plant that grows rapidly but is subject to
protection due to desertification. This ma-
terial is essentially used to create fences.

Local use

fence heating

Features

termites flexibility

Average sizes

5 cm 5m

Availability

regionally

Kaira Looro Architecture Competition Materials datas

 SAND

Numerous river sand quarries are avai-

lable, mainly used for construction. The sand
can take on different grades but always ke-
eping gray, and has a small amount of clay.

Local use

brick building
production

Features

little clay
content

Average sizes

not available

Availability

locally

Kaira Looro Architecture Competition Materials datas

 LOCAL BAMBOO FENCE

They are fences made with wild bamboo

used to fence agricultural fields, houses
or the pasture area. They are sold in she-
ets of 1.50 by 2.5 meters but it is also pos-
sible to request them in different sizes.

Local use

fence

Features

termites cheap

Average sizes

3m 1,5 m

Availability

regionally

Kaira Looro Architecture Competition Materials datas

 LOCAL TRUNK

There are small sawmills that can produ-

ce and cut local tree trunks of limited size,
to create rectangular or cubic elements.

Local use

building

Features

heavy strong

Average sizes

20 cm 2m 40 cm

Availability

regionally

Kaira Looro Architecture Competition Materials datas

 RED EARTH

The soil substrate is lateritic-sandy. There are

red earth quarries having a small amount of
clay. Normally this earth is used to produce
earth bricks, but its use is being abandoned and
this earth is used to build roads in rural areas.

Local use

brick building
production

Features

clay content

Average sizes

not available

Availability

locally

Kaira Looro Architecture Competition Materials datas

 CORRUGATED SHEET

The sheet is used for roofing, and has replaced

traditional roofs. There are poorly manufactu-
red sheets that begin to corrode after a few years
and aluminum sheets that are mainly used in
the roofs of markets or other public buildings
because they are more expensive.

Local use

building

Features

lightness waterproof

Average sizes

2m 1,2 m

Availability

nationally

Kaira Looro Architecture Competition Materials datas

 METAL SHEET

Sheet metal sheets are used to make gates, doors

and windows. The material is imported from
the north of the country.

Local use

fence

Features

lightness flexibility

Average sizes

2,5 m 1,2 m

Availability

nationally

Kaira Looro Architecture Competition Materials datas

 METAL PROFILES

Iron profiles of different sizes are available,

mainly used to create furnishings, windows,
doors and gates. The material is imported from
the north of the country.

Local use

building fence

Features

resistance durability

Average sizes

different sizes

Availability

nationally

Kaira Looro Architecture Competition Materials datas

 WOOD BEAMS

Samba or frakè wooden beams are available,

used for the construction of the roofs. The wood
is fairly porous and subject to termites so con-
stant treatment and maintenance are required.

Local use

carpentry

Features

resistance termites

Average sizes

5 cm 2m 8 cm

Availability

nationally

Kaira Looro Architecture Competition Materials datas

 WOOD PLANK

Samba or frakè wood boards are available, used

for carpentry and as a formwork.
The wood is fairly porous and subject to termi-
tes so constant treatment and maintenance are
required.

Local use

carpentry

Features

resistance termites

Average sizes

3 cm 4m 20 cm

Availability

nationally

Kaira Looro Architecture Competition Materials datas

 METAL BEAMS

Iron beams and pillars are used in the capital

for the construction of infrastructure and go-
vernment buildings. The use of these materials
requires the commitment of qualified person-
nel and professional equipment absent in rural
areas.

Local use

building

Features

resistance durability expensive

Average sizes

different sizes

Availability

nationally

Kaira Looro Architecture Competition Materials datas

 Kaira Looro Architecture Competition
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Organized by Balouo Salo

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