Centre des Cultures et Spiritualités Ewés (CCSE), Togo
Kéré Architecture has revealed its design for the Centre des Cultures et Spiritualités Ewés (CCSE), a cultural center dedicated to preserving and celebrating the traditions of the Ewé people in Notsé, Togo. Commissioned by the Kothor Foundation, the project will include a sanctuary, temples, an open-air amphitheater, exhibition halls, an auditorium, restaurants, and a reconstruction of the ancient royal palace of the Ewé Kingdom. The construction primarily uses red laterite brick, a durable and locally abundant material, ideal for the climate.
The master plan is centered around the Agbogbodzi Sanctuary and the remnants of the historic Agbogbo wall, a sacred site significant to the Ewé people’s history. The design incorporates low-rise buildings integrated with the landscape, featuring natural ventilation and shaded patios. A spiral tower at the deity's site symbolizes the connection between the divine, the ancestors, and the heavens.
Notsé, founded in the 17th century, is a historic cultural hub for the Ewé people and the site of the annual Agbogbozan festival, which celebrates unity and ancestral memory. The CCSE’s exhibition halls will preserve historical artifacts and showcase contemporary works, while natural light shafts create a serene, ambient atmosphere. The site’s main entrance is marked by a gateway inspired by the Ewé royal stool, a symbol of power and heritage.
The CCSE, developed in cooperation with the Kothor Foundation, emphasizes the importance of valuing traditions and reconnecting with cultural roots to foster a better future for local communities, benefiting both Africa and the world. As Kokou Djifanou Kothor states: "We believe that to honor our traditions is to place the light of the past into the hands of the present in order to illuminate the future."
Francis Kéré expressed his pride in contributing to the project, stating, “This center will serve as a space to express and preserve identity, demonstrating how architecture can celebrate and empower communities.”
Construction started in October 2024 and is expected to be completed in February 2026. This marks Kéré Architecture's first project in Togo, further expanding the firm's portfolio of ongoing works in West Africa, such as the Benin National Assembly and the Thomas Sankara Mausoleum in Burkina Faso.
Kéré Architecture has revealed its design for the Centre des Cultures et Spiritualités Ewés (CCSE), a cultural center dedicated to preserving and celebrating the traditions of the Ewé people in Notsé, Togo. Commissioned by the Kothor Foundation, the project will include a sanctuary, temples, an open-air amphitheater, exhibition halls, an auditorium, restaurants, and a reconstruction of the ancient royal palace of the Ewé Kingdom. The construction primarily uses red laterite brick, a durable and locally abundant material, ideal for the climate.
The master plan is centered around the Agbogbodzi Sanctuary and the remnants of the historic Agbogbo wall, a sacred site significant to the Ewé people’s history. The design incorporates low-rise buildings integrated with the landscape, featuring natural ventilation and shaded patios. A spiral tower at the deity's site symbolizes the connection between the divine, the ancestors, and the heavens.
Notsé, founded in the 17th century, is a historic cultural hub for the Ewé people and the site of the annual Agbogbozan festival, which celebrates unity and ancestral memory. The CCSE’s exhibition halls will preserve historical artifacts and showcase contemporary works, while natural light shafts create a serene, ambient atmosphere. The site’s main entrance is marked by a gateway inspired by the Ewé royal stool, a symbol of power and heritage.
The CCSE, developed in cooperation with the Kothor Foundation, emphasizes the importance of valuing traditions and reconnecting with cultural roots to foster a better future for local communities, benefiting both Africa and the world. As Kokou Djifanou Kothor states: "We believe that to honor our traditions is to place the light of the past into the hands of the present in order to illuminate the future."
Francis Kéré expressed his pride in contributing to the project, stating, “This center will serve as a space to express and preserve identity, demonstrating how architecture can celebrate and empower communities.”
Construction started in October 2024 and is expected to be completed in February 2026. This marks Kéré Architecture's first project in Togo, further expanding the firm's portfolio of ongoing works in West Africa, such as the Benin National Assembly and the Thomas Sankara Mausoleum in Burkina Faso.
