Sèmè City,
the ecocity dedicated to innovation

The Hardel le Bihan architectural firm is the coordinator of one of Benin's flagship institutional projects, one which is set to accelerate the development of the local construction industry.

Benin's presidency recently approved the final preliminary design for phase one of Sèmè City, the planned eco-city dedicated to innovation ‘Made in Africa’, which will be built in Ouidah, a town nestled between century-old baobabs, fields and mango trees. The initiative was presented by a consortium of firms: Taller de Arquitectura Ricardo Bofill (RBTA, Barcelona), Cobloc Architecture in Cotonou and landscape architects Niez Studio, under the supervision of architectural firm Hardel Le Bihan.

The focal point of the project is a huge campus designed to accommodate 30,000 students and researchers, five training clusters and incubators for start-ups and local businesses. The Parisian firm Hardel Le Bihan was chosen to coordinate the project in the wake of its work on Dakar's Cheikh Anta Diop University campus's new residences, and in particular its involvement with local industries. It will build the sports academy, the incubator-makerspace, the conference centre, academic buildings and student accommodation, as well as the Project House, with its belvedere, one of the first buildings to see the light of day. Designed with a bioclimatic and resilient approach, the project will activate and strengthen Benin's construction and manufacturing trades, in particular those working with terracotta, plant fibres and other bio-sourced materials that will be used on site. hardel-lebihan.com