Meroë Royal Baths Protective Shelter

First excavated in 1912 by the University of Liverpool, the Meroë Royal Baths are the focus of a joint research project between the German Archaeological Institute and Sudan’s National Corporation for Antiquities and Museums. Dating back to the first century AD, the complex is thought to have serviced two nearby palaces of the great African Kingdom of Kush in what is now modern-day Sudan. Located 200 kilometres northeast of Khartoum, the ancient city of Meroë sits on the eastern bank of the Nile and is marked by temples, palaces and more than 200 pyramids. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011, the ruins of Meroë are considered a great testimony to the vast cultural exchange that once took place between the Mediterranean and North Africa. In 2015, Kéré Architecture won the competition to design the baths’ protective shelter.

Kéré Architecture proposed a protective shelter that celebrates the architectural heritage of the site. Made with local clay and stone, the simple shape of the shelter offers a contemporary yet understated design with the added advantage of long-term durability. A thick wall of mud brick not only offers protection against eroding winds and outside elements, it also helps maintain a stable interior climate. 

Vaulted brick ceilings and courtyards promote natural ventilation and humidity control inside, creating optimal conditions for the artefacts. A series of partially suspended walkways offers visitors a unique opportunity to experience the historic ruins, which include a bathing pool, an opulently decorated wall and an exedra with four majestic seats. To help prevent damage to the ruins, a sophisticated combination of foundations and structural systems will work together to support all new construction. The shelter’s design means it will maintain its structural stability while allowing further research and excavation to continue.