Congo Kintele Congress Centre

WORDS Cheri Morris IMAGES Avci Architects

The Congo Kintele Congress Centre recently opened in the newly developed area of Brazzaville in the Republic of the Congo and boasts design that is equally as stunning as it is harmonious with the environment.

Headed by Selçuk Avcı of Avci Architects – renowned for being a significant representative of sustainable architecture in Turkey – the 75 000 square metre congress centre will be used for the hosting of African Union summits. The centre and resort hotel are designed to be harmonious with their geographical, climatic and cultural context and feature panoramic views of the Congo River and forested landscapes.

The entire placement of the structures is dictated largely by the topography of the land; the buildings sit parallel to the contours created naturally by the valley that has been chiselled out by the great Congo River. The centre features a congress hall, presidential hall, banquet hall and public piazza all linked by a 350 metre long colonnade that is interrupted only by courtyards for relaxation purposes. The 200-room resort hotel is located just above the centre for optimal views of the natural landscape and settles naturally into its surroundings rather than protruding as a mass of urban structure.

The design of the centre celebrates the ever-present Congo rain by installing features that make it audible and visible; a piazza is sheltered by a square oculus that directs the rain into a shallow pool. Various water falls, pools and gargoyle features also decorate the space.

To find out more about the project, visit Avci Architects.