"Getting to know the Somalia I couldn't visit, how my parents lived" | Somali Architecture @ LDB2018

An interview with Madina Scacchi during London Design Biennale 2018. Madina is a Somali-Italian architect based in Rome and part of the team behind Somali Architecture.

🎥🎬 by Vidan Lawnes

The Somali Architecture project began in 2015 and it was founded by Yusuf Shegow. It began as a platform to share historical pictures of the city of Mogadishu and all of Somalia. It started mainly through the platform Instagram and little by little, Yusuf made the website and the 3D models.

What Remains

THE SOMALI CIVIL WAR LEFT ITS RICH ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE IN RUINS. WHAT REMAINS CELEBRATES THESE REMNANTS OF THE COUNTRY’S PAST AND OFFERS THE HOPE THAT THEY CAN BE THE FOUNDATIONS OF A BRIGHTER FUTURE.

What remains when the war ends? Ruins preserve histories that are often forgotten. In the face of conflict and destruction, ruins are proof that there was something before the wreckage, and before the painful emotions that they evoke. Not all ruins are the same; some buildings remain standing despite attempts to turn them into rubble. They are manifestations of people’s indestructible hope, resilience and survival.

Somalia’s exhibition traces the history of Somali architecture before and after the civil war, from its pre-colonial heritage to its manifestations under British and Italian rule, through to the post-independence socialist modernism of the late 20th century. The exhibit reflected on the impact of the civil war on this architectural heritage.

Visitors were guided through images and video projection that follow the devastation which not only transformed the physical landscape of the country but also carried with it unimaginable human costs. The main installation features 3D models of Mogadishu’s most iconic buildings and monuments. As the capital city, Mogadishu is emblematic of both the architectural styles and the political struggles of the whole country.

Visitors were immersed in a 360-degree experience showing how the country has radically changed in the last 30 years, and suggesting how what remains could act as the foundation for future reconstruction. The remnants of the past bear witness to people’s hope that Somalia will return to the vibrant country it once was.

Credits:

Curator: Somali Architecture
Design team: Yusuf Shegow, Madina Scacchi, Iman Mohamed, Ahmed Mussa.

#LondonDesignBiennale
Filming: RiyoFilms
Supporting bodies: Premier Bank, Deeqa Construction and Water Well Drilling Co., Benadir Regional Administration.

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Nairobi Design Week designed The Refugees’ Pavilion in collaboration with partner organisations that work with refugees around the world, and brought 'Inspiration through Creation' to the London Design Biennale 2018. We got to meet Madina and many other talented designers who were bringing their perspectives to the world stage.

Видео "Getting to know the Somalia I couldn't visit, how my parents lived" | Somali Architecture @ LDB2018 канала Nairobi Design