Project
Zando Central Market Reconstruction, Kinshasa
A major climate-responsive civic project serving Kinshasa’s informal and formal economies, Zando combines monumental concrete structure, porous locally made brick façades, passive ventilation, universal-access ramps and landscaped courtyards at an exceptional urban scale. The architecture is substantially complete, but the repeatedly delayed public opening, conflicting published metrics and scrutiny of the operating contract make verification and an update from the project team essential before coverage.
- Location
- Zando / Grand Marché Central, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Organizations
- THINK TANK architecture paysage urbanisme — Lead architect and architect of record; official project team credits the practice with architectural design and delivery.; Egis Bâtiments International — Building and civil engineering.; SOGEMA SARL (Société de Gestion des Marchés Africains) — Client, contracting authority and delegated market operator.; Novablok — Feasibility consultant according to the architect and Holcim Foundation; ArchDaily separately labels its role as graphic design, requiring clarification.; AYO Bet Façades — Façade engineering consultant.; SZTC (Société Zhengwei Technique Congo) — Construction contractor; also jointly credited for some construction documentation photographs.
