CASE ZOMAI
OUIDAH/BENIN

As a flagship project on the memorial route between Ouidah and the Porte-du-Non-retour, the agency has designed a veritable landscape park as a multidimensional experience, retracing the history of the Zomaï hut and exploring the Beninese landscape.

The project

Our study is built around a main path, woven with numerous scenographies that captivate the observer at every step, preserving the site's profound essence and the symbolic richness it embodies. Like a book unfolding its chapters guided by history and emotion, each element of this journey offers a new and meaningful experience.

A majestic entrance: The first piece of this grandiose picture materializes through a majestic entrance, carefully designed to offer visitors an initial immersion into the world of existing outdoor artworks. This area, conceived as an open-air museum, highlights these artistic creations, creating a captivating introduction that arouses curiosity and prepares visitors for the rich history that gradually unfolds.

A perspective that speaks volumes: The central axis of the trail begins at the site entrance, orchestrating a visual narrative that ends abruptly at the Zomaï hut. This discontinuity in the path powerfully symbolizes the end of the life represented by the landscaped park, underlining the transition to a crucial episode in the site's history. Each step along the path accentuates the separation between the tranquil landscape of the past and the emotional impact of the next stage.

La Case Zomaï, a veritable heart of history, was once a prison where slaves were confined before their tragic departure for the Americas. The poignant details of this place reveal a painful past, distinguishing the destinies of those considered fit for service from those deemed useless. The strategic landscaping, with its strict forms, guides visitors into the hut, allowing a gradual immersion into the pain and strength required to survive physical and psychological torture.

The mangrove as an escape: After the poignant revelation of the Zomaï hut, the focus of the visit naturally shifts to the mangrove. This natural sanctuary becomes an emotional escape, offering a reflective pause. The pontoon crossing the mangrove and its majestic mangrove trees represents the last image of a magical and remarkable landscape that Benin offers, before continuing on to the Zoungbodji Memorial. This transition serves to soothe the emotions while highlighting the diversity and beauty of the Beninese landscape, preparing visitors mentally for the next phase of their journey.