The project explored how a contemporary West African exhibition space could move beyond the conventions of the enclosed gallery. Drawing from ancient Benin urban principles, rainforest ecology, social gathering, and climate-responsive design, the proposal positioned the gallery as both a cultural destination and a living landscape.
The concept brought together exhibition spaces, outdoor gathering areas, an oral knowledge hub, workshop and cafe spaces, garden trails, and planted social zones. Rather than treating architecture, landscape, and programme as separate elements, the proposal imagined them as one connected environment for art, learning, performance, reflection, and encounter.
As part of the Studio Elementals team, we contributed to early design concept work for MOWAA’s Rainforest Gallery.
The project explored how a contemporary West African exhibition space could move beyond the conventions of the enclosed gallery. Drawing from ancient Benin urban principles, rainforest ecology, social gathering, and climate-responsive design, the proposal positions the gallery as both a cultural destination and a living landscape.
The concept brings together exhibition spaces, outdoor gathering areas, an oral knowledge hub, workshop, cafe spaces, garden trails, and planted social zones. The proposal imagines architecture, landscape, and programme as one connected environment for art, learning, performance, reflection, and human encounters.