Worm Qendra Argëtuese by Hactor Kabo Malete

Worm Qendra Argëtuese by Hactor Kabo Malete is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2023 Çmimi i Hekurt A' Design Award in Dizajni i Arkitekturës, Ndërtesave dhe Strukturave Competition Category.

HekuriArkitekturë· 2023

Worm Qendra Argëtuese

by Hactor Kabo Malete

Client: Hactor K. Malete

Çmimi i Hekurt A' Design Award Winner in Arkitekturë Category

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The Design

About Worm Qendra Argëtuese

Në historinë e kulturës së popullit të Botsvanës, Mophane Worm ka qenë gjithmonë një nga shijet lokale. Koncepti i dizajnit u frymëzua nga Mophane Worm. Forma gjeometrike e ndërtesës imiton formën e trupit të krimbit. Ky krimb jeton gjithë jetën e tij në pemën Mophane. Kjo marrëdhënie midis Worm Mophane dhe Pemës Mophane u përkthye në mënyrën se si ndërtesa lidhet me bimësinë natyrore që e rrethon. Lidhja e ndërtesës me peizazhin natyror ishte vendimtare në projektim. Për më tepër, përdorimi i materialit natyror lokal ngjall karakterin e arkitekturës popullore Tswana

The Recognition

About the Çmimi i Hekurt A' Design Award

Worm Qendra Argëtuese është fitues i Çmimit të Hekurt A' Design Award, një njohje prestigjioze që u akordohet dizajneve të mira që plotësojnë kërkesat profesionale e industriale që priten nga krijimet e dizajnuara mirë. Fituesit e Hekurt shfaqin aftësi të madhe, specializim të lartë, kuptim ekspert dhe kapacitet krijues të autorëve të tyre. Worm Qendra Argëtuese pritet të jetë një krijim shumë i vlerësuar, i admiruar e i dashur, praktik dhe inovativ. Ky dizajn fitues i Çmimit të Hekurt A' Design Award integron praktikat më të mira të industrisë dhe ka karakteristika teknike të afta, të lidhura me njohuri dhe talent. Worm Qendra Argëtuese respektohet për përpikërinë e tij dhe është dizajnuar për të ofruar përmirësime të cilësisë së jetës që ndihmojnë ta bëjnë botën një vend më të mirë.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: The building consists of the restaurant, bar, gym, central courtyard with leisure pool. It assumes a horse shoe shape of Mophane worm, creating a central circular courtyard with leisure pool and relaxing spaces. The outside façade of the building also opens up towards the natural landscape. The building opens up to both the courtyard and the natural landscape outside. Roughly 70 percent of the façade of the building consists of glazing for visual and physical connection to the exterior.
Dimensions & Packaging: The building is 1 180 square meters excluding the courtyard and the swimming pool areas. Primary building materials used for construction are natural and promote sustainability and healthy relationship with the natural environment. They promote natural cooling, ventilation, lighting and cost saving. These include, compressed earth blocks masonry, thatched roof, gum poles. Some of the feature walls are made of stones sourced locally. Glass walls were used for visual connection
Tags: Entertainment centre, mophane worm, the worm, natural landscape, mophane tree
Production Technology: The geometric form of the building is derived from and composed from the shape of Mophane worm. The main body of the worm was translated into the floating and overarching roof that covers all indoor spaces below it. The moving multiple legs of the worm were translated into the flexible and openable glass walls that open to the courtyard and also the outside natural environment.
Design Challenge: The hardest part of this task was creating a building that resembles the form of Mophane worm and at the same translating the relationship between Mohape Worm and Mophane Tree into how the building relates to the natural landscape around it. The Architect had to further make sure that this is not purely a literal exercise of artistic expression but it also further primarily has an effect on the spatial arrangement and relationship.
Research: In Botswana’s history, Mophane worm has always been one of the local delicacies and staple foods. Residents also harvest the worm to sell it in order to sustain their lives. Creating a building that resonates with this worm gives the building a cultural significance. The building’s dominant feature which is the roof is made of thatch which reflects traditional Tswana huts. The circular character of the building also connects to the circular forms that always dominate traditional Tswana huts
Inspiration: The design was inspired by nature, Mophane Worm in particular. This worm is a local delicacy in Botswana. The building is designed to mimic the body shape of the worm. The Worm lives its life as a worm on Mophane Tree. This relationship between Mophane Worm and Mophane Tree was further translated to how the building relates to the natural vegetation surrounding it. The connection of the building to the natural landscape was crucial in the design.
Project Duration: This project has not been built yet. However, the client has indicated that he is intending to commence construction sometime towards the end of the year 2023. The design took 2 months to complete, including technical documentation. The site for the project is in the outskirts of a small town called Letlhakane in Botswana
Operation Flow: The building assumes a horse-shoe shape, which is the shape of Mophane Worm when it protects itself against potential external harm or prey. The worm usually coils and creates a safe haven for itself in that horse-shoe shape. This building therefore creates a central protected courtyard where outdoor leisure activities happen. This is where the leisure pool is located. The activities are protected from harsh weather. Indoor activities are all arranged around this courtyard.