The climatic and socio-economic adversities of the African continent present an endless source of inspiration for the development of an emergency operations center, supported by the strong and authentic local creative expression. With a resilient architecture that takes its sustainability from the use of local materials as well as efficient water supply systems and the non-generation, reduction, reuse and environmentally appropriate treatment of waste in order to reduce the release of said waist in sewers, bodies of water and in the drainage and rainwater collection system. Amongst the design solutions adopted as mechanisms for preserving life with dignity, there are infrastructures and operational facilities aimed at the different management of these wastes, such as the filtering of gray waters that can be reused in a vegetable garden, local processing of organic waste with dry pots and its composting units, rainwater collection with reuse of water for non-potable purposes, thus facilitating access to basic sanitation services. For activities that require the use of groundwater, the project proposes a well, expanding the local water availability, both for direct consumption and for irrigating fields and vegetable gardens, always encouraging the rational consumption of water. Additionally, a windmill as a system for cogeneration of energy for installations that require electricity is also envisaged in the project, promoting the sustainable development of a predominantly rural area with support for community-based agriculture. The program is developed in 3 main areas - MANAGEMENT, LOGISTICS and ASSISTANCE - which were divided into two zones, dry and wet, creating 2 main blocks that cohesively organize activities and optimize installations. Therefore, the choice of toilets as a permanent rigid block, built by compacting the local land, will in the future provide complete hydro-sanitary facilities for access to water, sanitation and hygiene, essential items for any program that will be installed at the end of the emergency and can be reconverted from the original rigid block. With the use of renewable raw materials, easily found in the region, the adopted design enables the use of a suspended roof that allows constant natural lighting and ventilation, thus avoiding the proliferation of mold and fungi, contributing to a safe, resistant, ecological and healthy. The way the materials and textures are worked creates unity through the facades, corroborating with the vernacular visual language. One of the prerogatives of the project was to “loosen” the structure of the ambients, combining the external “skin” of bamboo with structural function, in an irregular triangulation, creating rhythm and with certain sections filled with rammed earth, configuring an attractive and visually permeable boundary, these elements break the space and offer variations of shadow and light, thus separating the space in several layers for users. It becomes the basis of a common and porous space, allowing exchanges with the surroundings. The internal “skin” of bamboo was called a “screen” because it resembles this furniture. They are vertical panels interconnected with knots and lashings, fixed to the ground and arranged in a regular way covering each environment, thus defining the spaces and programmatic activities, being a second layer of protection in addition to providing privacy, without preventing the entry of light and natural ventilation, since it does not touch the floor or the ceiling. These openings allow the chimney effect, providing thermal balance through constant air changes, removing hot air and entering cold air. The blocks occupy a total of 498.98m² divided between the management area, which has 52.17m², the logistics area with 47.88m², the assistance area with 128.98m² and the rigid block for the toilets, which measures 80.33m². Although the project has layouts adapted to the specific needs of the program, any visual hierarchy between environments is avoided. Without intermediate pillars, the distribution of spaces is very flexible, using light and removable partitions, facilitating possible organizational rearrangements for various emergencies. 

Based on the teachings of traditional African nomadic architecture, the use of clay combined with other available local materials of vegetable origin such as bamboo, which is a light but resistant wood with a structural function and with low thermal conductivity, plus the use of local labor contributes to making the project economical and sustainable. The best option would be, along with the use of bamboo, to use clay since both are natural and culturally accepted materials in Africa, which guarantees multiple formal responses. In the project, the two materials blend in the facades with the external skin of structural function since a deconstructed rammed earth wall was proposed as both a focal and functional element. The project also has constant natural lighting and ventilation due to the design of the suspended roof and detached seals at the ends. The frames were replaced only by the doorways, where carpets of local origin will be installed, entirely suspended in the transverse frame of the gaps where the fabric will run as a curtain, promoting the creative economy of the local community, with traditional tapestry pieces. 

The logic for the execution is to start the construction by the toilets since this technique demands more work and time. The foundation is a simple Wall Footing system. Since the building is self-supporting, it will not receive the roof load, allowing the layers of clay to go until the final height. For the excavations of the dry zone, the foundation is used with trenches of gravel ballast followed by a layer of compacted sand above it. After the positioning of the tire footing filled with sand, the whitewood tray fitted with slats is assembled, where the structural bamboos are fixed in the axis of the tire footing. After that, the roof structure is made with bamboo tiles and the OSB plywood floor, which will also serve as a template for the walls, can be installed with the appropriate markings and holes for the internal screen type fences that will be staked. As the floor is elevated, it does not come into direct contact with the ground, avoiding direct moisture and allowing the passage of electrical installations. At the end, the rammed earth panels are made with the structural bamboos that constitute the external skin, giving the center more identity and cohesion.