Shifting conditions, frameworks and approaches: The work of KPDV in postcolonial Africa
This paper discusses the trajectory and production of the French architecture firm Kalt—Pouradier-Duteil—Vignal. This firm was very prolific in Africa from the late colonial period right up to the 1980s, the author argues, because of its flexibility towards the constantly changing political, economi...
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Institut National d'Histoire de l'Art
2014-07-01
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| Series: | ABE Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.openedition.org/abe/3387 |
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| author | Kim De Raedt |
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| author_sort | Kim De Raedt |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper discusses the trajectory and production of the French architecture firm Kalt—Pouradier-Duteil—Vignal. This firm was very prolific in Africa from the late colonial period right up to the 1980s, the author argues, because of its flexibility towards the constantly changing political, economic and socio-cultural context in which it operated. It was first active in the colonial context of mise-en-valeur du territoire, refashioned itself in the post-independence era to become a major consultant to the European Union’s development aid agency and ultimately realised various types of projects throughout West Africa for a wide range of clients, both African and foreign. While throughout this period, commissions for foreign architects in Africa were generally tied to a particular company, international (aid) organisation or (colonial) state agency—which meant that work opportunities ceased if the institutional framework disintegrated—KPDV managed to stay on the African scene for almost thirty years. By discussing a select number of projects designed by KPDV, the author will show that the office accomplished this by constantly reformulating its modes of design, research, building practices and project management in response to the quickly changing context in which it operated. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bc38802e792a436fa78f60ddf2414f1b |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2275-6639 |
| language | deu |
| publishDate | 2014-07-01 |
| publisher | Institut National d'Histoire de l'Art |
| record_format | Article |
| series | ABE Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-bc38802e792a436fa78f60ddf2414f1b2025-08-20T02:47:28ZdeuInstitut National d'Histoire de l'ArtABE Journal2275-66392014-07-01410.4000/abe.3387Shifting conditions, frameworks and approaches: The work of KPDV in postcolonial AfricaKim De RaedtThis paper discusses the trajectory and production of the French architecture firm Kalt—Pouradier-Duteil—Vignal. This firm was very prolific in Africa from the late colonial period right up to the 1980s, the author argues, because of its flexibility towards the constantly changing political, economic and socio-cultural context in which it operated. It was first active in the colonial context of mise-en-valeur du territoire, refashioned itself in the post-independence era to become a major consultant to the European Union’s development aid agency and ultimately realised various types of projects throughout West Africa for a wide range of clients, both African and foreign. While throughout this period, commissions for foreign architects in Africa were generally tied to a particular company, international (aid) organisation or (colonial) state agency—which meant that work opportunities ceased if the institutional framework disintegrated—KPDV managed to stay on the African scene for almost thirty years. By discussing a select number of projects designed by KPDV, the author will show that the office accomplished this by constantly reformulating its modes of design, research, building practices and project management in response to the quickly changing context in which it operated.https://journals.openedition.org/abe/3387European Development Fundpostcolonial architectureexpert |
| spellingShingle | Kim De Raedt Shifting conditions, frameworks and approaches: The work of KPDV in postcolonial Africa ABE Journal European Development Fund postcolonial architecture expert |
| title | Shifting conditions, frameworks and approaches: The work of KPDV in postcolonial Africa |
| title_full | Shifting conditions, frameworks and approaches: The work of KPDV in postcolonial Africa |
| title_fullStr | Shifting conditions, frameworks and approaches: The work of KPDV in postcolonial Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Shifting conditions, frameworks and approaches: The work of KPDV in postcolonial Africa |
| title_short | Shifting conditions, frameworks and approaches: The work of KPDV in postcolonial Africa |
| title_sort | shifting conditions frameworks and approaches the work of kpdv in postcolonial africa |
| topic | European Development Fund postcolonial architecture expert |
| url | https://journals.openedition.org/abe/3387 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kimderaedt shiftingconditionsframeworksandapproachestheworkofkpdvinpostcolonialafrica |