20-10-2010
Peter Rich: Mapungubwe Interpretation Centre
Peter Rich,
Zimbawe,

On the slopes of a mesa in a vast expanse of hilly land dominated by wild tree species, the complex reflects the shape of the landscape and fits in like a natural element clearly wishing to camouflage with and be disguised by its surroundings. Organised as a path on multiple levels crossing through different buildings linked by raised walkways, with dry walls and stairs surrounded by vegetation, the Mapungubwe Interpretation Centre looks like an ancient artefact emerging again out of the stratification of the land: the domes uniting the different structures so that they look like a single whole recall prehistoric caves, with smooth, majestic vaults inside and disorderly piles of stones extracted from local quarries on the outside. The construction’s complex sinuosity culminating in its domes built out of fragments of stone makes it look like a mountain range eroded by time and the action of nature, generating a surprising effect of integration between the natural and built landscape. The domes also constitute a link with the local population: the arches are made of raw earth bricks made by hand by local workers trained in a special economic assistance programme undertaken by South African National Parks, the client in the project.
by Mara Corradi
Design: Peter Rich
Assistants: Lineo Leratholi (social programming), Desrae Dunn, Abdullah Abass (contract documentation), Anne Fitchett (materials research), Heinrich Kammeyer, Franz Prinsloo
Structural design: John Ochsendorf (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Structural Vaults), Michael Ramage (Cambridge University, Structural Vaults), James Bellamy, (Cambridge University Technical Services, Structural Vault monitoring and training), Henry Fagan and Mark Mallin, (Henry Fagan & Partnrs, Consulting structural and civil engineers)
Client: SANParks (South African National Parks)
Location: Mapungubwe National Park and World Heritage Site (South Africa)
Total surface area: 1948 m2
Outdoor surface area: 469 m2
Project start date: 2007
Construction: 2007-2009
Raw earth bricks and local stones
www.peterricharchitects.co.za
www.sanparks.org