Page 16 - JCAU-5-1

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Geographical and architectural imaginations

while the horizontal base conveys a sense of stability. The vertical concrete slabs. Importantly, this façade redefines
first floor of the base is raised and functions as public the relationship between design and climate by presenting
spaces, facilitating sea breezes to lower indoor and outdoor strong visual connections to tropical modernism, with the
temperatures and enhances natural ventilation. Visitors use of devices to block the heat of the sun or brise-soleil, a
access the second-floor lobby via large outdoor steps technique once characteristically used by Le Corbusier in
(Figure 11). The double-height lobby connects to bright the 1930s and later widely appropriated by international
lounges on both sides, which are linked to the courtyards architects practicing in tropical regions.
through zigzag stairs outside (Figure 12). The building’s During Chen’s visit to Conakry in 1961, he was impressed
interior maintains good natural lighting and ventilation by the deliberate design of modernist architecture in
conditions, creating a comfortable microclimate response to local hot and humid climate, exemplified by
environment with the outdoor courtyards. Reflecting on the Grand Hotel de L’Independance designed in 1953 by
the centralized layout years later, Chen (1987) recognized the French architects Atelier LWD, with contributions
that different groups of people, such as bureau members, from Charlotte Perriand and Jean Prouvé for interior and
conference delegations, journalists, and the public, require furniture design. The hotel was composed of a long, seven-
distinct foyers and lounges. A single spacious and lavish storied slab building, supported by pillars, with a circular
hall may not be economical or intimate enough. pavilion hosting the restaurant. A direct staircase links the
In addition to its monumental character, the building’s elevated entrance to the lobby on the 2 floor. Among his
nd
tropical identity is best exemplified by the way in which the detailed documentation of local architectural heritage, the
central volume is covered by down-to-floor prefabricated most noteworthy were the designs of facades for natural
cement blocks, and the base volume is wrapped by dense ventilation, such as the lobby enveloped by the brise-soleil
and the restaurant facade created by Prouvé, consisting of
screens that swing open to the sea.
In 1962, the Soviet architects E. V. Rybitsky and G. N.
Tsytovich designed the Institut Polytechnique de Conakry
(later renamed as Gamal Abdel Nasser University,
Conakry) (Meuser & Dalbai, 2012). One notable feature
of the project was the lecture hall, which was enveloped
by prefabricated concrete blocks with a hollow pattern
designed to facilitate natural ventilation (Figure 13). It

Figure 11. The main entrance of the palace. Source: Courtesy of China
Architecture Design and Research Group.

Figure 12. The entrance lobby of the palace. Source: Courtesy of China Figure 13. The Institut Polytechnique de Conakry. Source: Courtesy of
Architecture Design and Research Group. Sputnik.

Volume 5 Issue 1 (2023) 10 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.200