Considering Togo's Architectural Heritage | Venice, Venice, Italy | 2025

Category: Display/Installations
Architect: Jeanne Autran-Edorh, Belgium
Architecture Office: Studio Neida
Design Team: Jeanne Autran-Edorh, Fabiola Büchele
Associate Architects: Sabrine Bako
Client: Palais de Lomé, Venice Biennale
Photographer: Matteo Losurdo

The project examines the premier of Togo Republic’s first pavilion at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia in 2025 with a project titled Considering Togo’s Architectural Heritage.

The exhibition is an iteration of the Conservation / Transformation showcased as part of RAL #1 (Les Rencontres Architecturales de Lomé) and explores the architectural narratives of Togo from the turn of the 20th century, focusing on the themes of conservation and transformation. Studio NEiDA takes us through the methodical documentation of Togo’s iconic architecture, establishing a dialogue between conventional building practices and modernist construction techniques.

This approach invites a broader perspective on the understanding of the architectural landscape of Togo and serves as an exemplary representation of its rich heritage.
The investigation of forms and materiality within West Africa’s built environment, from the ancient Nôk caves to the traditional construction techniques, is exemplified by the Tatas Tamberma in northern Togo.

The unique fusion of Afro-Brazilian architecture, developed by freed slaves who returned from Brazil, from the period from the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s, is uncovered, alongside remarkable instances of modernist architecture that emerged following the nation’s independence.
Several of these structures continue to serve their original purposes, such as Hotel Sarakawa, the Hedzranawoe market and, namely, the ECOWAS and BOAD banks.

However, the exhibition equally serves as a showcase for dramatic relics of Togolese modernism as a new example of beauty. Outlined in the show are prominent buildings in a state of disrepair, including the Hotel de la Paix and the Bourse du Travail, while in contrast, certain structures have benefited from renovation. Particularly noteworthy are the refurbished Hotel 2 Février and the Palais des Congrès, which is in the process of restoration.