National Fishery and Maritime School

Nouadhibou, Mauritania

A specialised training school that is emblematic of the importance of fishing to the Mauritanian economy. The building alludes subtly to the metaphor of a ship, with its prow-like end. High-durability marine-quality concrete was used for the foundations (the shoreline site is at risk of flooding), while fair-face concrete was incorporated into the main facade (to avoid the need for paint or render on exposed surfaces). This required the highest possible standards of construction - a challenge met by local craftsmen with the support on site of a Brussels-based research group.

Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture