Büro Otto Sauhaus

Büro Otto Sauhaus

Büro Otto Sauhaus

Büro Otto Sauhaus

Büro Otto Sauhaus

Nr
00235
Trigger
Tasks
Project
Diouwanem Diamaguene, Dakar
Year
2021, 2022, 2023
Client
Ousmane Toure
Sector
Service
Text

The architectural firm c/o now designed a residential building in Diamaguene, a residential neighborhood in a suburb of Dakar, Senegal. Ousmane Toure, the client, entrusted us with the design of the surfaces and the facade, the doors, the windows, the molded bricks, and the grilles.

We were interviewed together about the project for Baunetzwoche #611. The project has also been shortlisted for the ‘International Shortlist’ of the DAM Prize 2025.

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The Toure family are artisans, so naturally they worked with craftsmen they knew. As is customary in Senegal, these craftsmen further developed and refined the plans during construction. The entire project was a collaboration among everyone involved in the house’s creation—coordinated almost exclusively via WhatsApp—between Neukölln, Moabit, and Diouwanem. The result was a total work of art. Our design for the house’s tiled floors, for example, was enhanced by the tile setters with the addition of Carreaux-Cassés laid in the center of the courtyard.

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Kitchen
3rd floor

construction site

The nearly finished kitchen on the upper floor; the floor was tiled by Amadou Sarr and his apprentices—the ledge beneath the yellow built-in unit is a free interpretation of the designs and, as suspected, also serves as a break from our zigzag.

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Tile plan

3rd floor

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Tile plan

1st floor

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Tile plan

ground floor

Even the architects at c/o now changed the plans: they took the sketch provided by their client, Ousmane Toure, rotated his design 90 degrees, and simply moved the rear section of the building slightly away from the neighboring structure. This created a chimney effect, which provided such effective natural ventilation that the front door now has to be secured with a stone.

However, the rotation and set-back also resulted in the loss of valuable living space. This was the subject of much debate. The masons solved the problem. Later, on a whim at the construction site, they decided to build a third floor that hadn’t actually been planned at all. Incidentally, there are no standardized components in this house; everything can be designed and produced in a workshop just around the corner. Not only the windows, doors, and molded bricks, but even the cement blocks are handmade.

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Facade finished
2023

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Facade plan

2020

Here you can see the facade as it was originally planned—with two stories: a photo from the monitor, the fastest way to communicate in the WhatsApp group. Next to it, for comparison, is the finished facade, three years later, featuring an extra balcony for an even better view and an additional story. This extra third story was the masons’ idea.

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Model
2021

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Courtyard

construction site

2023

The first model was built jointly by Ousmane Toure, the client and a mason, and Andrijana Ivanda, an architect at c/o now. Next to it, for comparison, is one of the many photos from the construction site in Dakar’s Diouwanem neighborhood that Abran Toure, the site manager, sent daily.

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Facade

Development

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Kitchen windows
3rd floor

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Babacar Toure
Metalworker

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Molded bricks
Dimensions

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Molded brick

Test

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Sauhaus at work
2022

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Sauhaus at work
2022

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2025

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2025

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2025

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2025

Credits

Architects:
c/o now
Construction management:
Salifou Abran Toure
Foreman of the bricklayers:
Drame Diouf
Bricklayer:
Elou Diouf
Bricklayer:
Ibou Diouf
Bricklayer:
Oussenou Ndong with his employees
Bricklayer:
Ousmane Toure
Tiler:
Amadou Sarr with his employees
Tiler, apprentice:
Babacar Toure
Tiler:
Sanou Toure
Carpenter:
Mamadou Sarr
Carpenter:
Oussenou Sengor
Carpenter:
Alou MC
Electrician:
Lamin Souyaya
Electrician:
Alladji Sarr Mboka
Pipe layer:
Abib Sarr with his employees
Window manufacturer:
Babacar Toure
Painter:
Ndiaga Sall with his employees
Consultant:
Alfang Sarr
Consultant:
Mamadou Ndong
Consultant:
Marie Diop
Consultant:
Keba Ngom
Food:
Fatou Bagou Ndour
Food:
Rama Diatta
Food:
Amicolle Diatta
Food:
Fatou Sarr
Food:
Modu Diatta
Construction site clean up:
Mbat Sengor
Construction site clean up:
Kumba Sengor
Construction site clean up:
Fatou Bagou Ndour
Construction site clean up:
Mariam Diallo
Molded bricks:
Mor Geuye and Colleague
Thanks:
Djibi Diop
Thanks:
Serif Senghor
Thanks:
Issa Sarr Sobbbb
Thanks:
Biran Ndjai
Thanks:
Fode Rura Toure
Thanks:
Assane Sarr
Thanks:
Aladji Diouf
Thanks:
Astou Ndour
Thanks:
Ana Sarr
Thanks:
Senabu Sarr
Thanks:
Hadi Sarr