In a landmark moment for West African architecture, Togo has unveiled its inaugural national pavilion at the 19th Venice Architecture Biennale with Considering Togo’s Architectural Heritage—a vibrant and deeply researched exhibition celebrating the country’s imaginative modernist and traditional architectural legacies.
Hosted at Squero Castello from May 10 to November 23, 2025, the exhibition is curated by Studio Neida, a transdisciplinary collective based in Lomé and Berlin. Their presentation blends iconic structures with lesser-known gems to spotlight the depth, dynamism, and global relevance of Togolese design.
“Our goal is to reframe how we view architecture from Togo—not as derivative or peripheral, but as a unique and legitimate part of global modernist narratives,” explains Studio Neida co-founder Fabiola Büchele. “Lomé is filled with really intriguing buildings, and we wanted to show the world that they are worthy of celebration and preservation.”
A Tapestry of Togolese Icons
At the heart of the exhibition is the now-abandoned Hôtel de la Paix, a 1974 modernist masterpiece by French architect Daniel Chenut. Famed for its curving sunbreaker walls and mosaic façade, the building is affectionately dubbed the “kissing hotel” due to its silhouette—evoking two faces in embrace. “It’s iconic because of its eccentricity,” adds co-curator Jeanne Autran-Edorh. “It’s more than a building; it’s a character in the city.”
Another standout is the West African Development Bank (BOAD) headquarters in Lomé, completed in 1980 by architects Guy Durand and Raphaël Ekoué Hangbonon. The building’s cylindrical towers were inspired by the Tata Tamberma, fortress homes native to northern Togo, offering a compelling fusion of brutalist modernism and indigenous traditions.
Also featured is the clover-shaped Hédzranawoé Market (1986), a tribute to women traders designed by Togolese architect Blèce Afoda-Sebou, and the 1989 ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development building by Senegalese architect Pierre Goudiaby Atepa, whose undulating silhouette draws inspiration from the balafon, a traditional West African xylophone.
Weaving the Past into the Present
Studio Neida’s curatorial lens is intentional in its exclusions and inclusions. Rather than showcase colonial architecture, the exhibition centers works that reflect Togo’s post-independence aspirations—buildings either commissioned by a sovereign state or conceived by Togolese and regional architects envisioning a new future.
The exhibition also draws connections to older architectural forms such as the Nôk caves and Afro-Brazilian architecture, the latter brought back by formerly enslaved Togolese people returning from Brazil in the 19th and 20th centuries. These inclusions help frame Togo’s built environment as a continuum of cultural expression, innovation, and resistance.
Rooted in Togolese Craftsmanship
Installations are physically and symbolically grounded in local material culture. Photographs of the architectural icons are printed on large textile banners, suspended in the gallery and anchored by handmade ceramic pots. From fabric to framing, all components were produced in Togo, reinforcing the importance of local production and artisanship in architectural storytelling.
A Proud African Debut
Togo’s Architectural Heritage is one of just three African national pavilions at this year’s Biennale—alongside Egypt and Morocco. The project builds on a prior exhibition at the Palais de Lomé, with the institution’s director Sonia Lawson serving as commissioner for Togo’s debut in Venice.
“If we’re going to talk about modernism, let’s talk about it in a global sense,” urges Büchele. “Why must we always categorize African examples as ‘tropical’ or ‘vernacular’? These buildings are part of the same continuum. Let’s give them the space and respect they deserve.”
A Call to Action
More than a celebration, the pavilion is a call to preserve and revalue architectural heritage across Africa. Studio Neida hopes this platform will inspire conservation efforts, increase recognition of African contributions to modernism, and challenge conventional narratives that have long excluded the continent’s voices.
Experience the fusion of tradition and innovation that defines Togolese architecture at the Venice Architecture Biennale, running from May 10 to November 23, 2025, at Squero Castello, Salizada Streta 368, Venice.
