Invisible Border: Investigating the Two Sides of Zanzibar City

Abstract: Architecture is always intrinsically tied to place. Regardless of how architects choose to interact with and study it, the context our buildings are meant to inhabit is an important piece of the puzzle. As the world is getting more interconnected and geographical constraints are getting less important to the architectural profession, I am interested in how the creative process changes when assumptions about place can’t be made and one’s own experiences are lacking. In my thesis I have studied this through investigating Zanzibar City, the capital of the Zanzibar archipelago off the coast of Tanzania. It’s a city with rich culture and a complex history of both colonialism, slavery, and suppression as well as independence, prosperity, and beauty. It remains a city with a townscape containing buildings that reflect its history and particular culture, bringing together disparate elements of Africa, the Arab region, India, and Europe. My project zooms in on two areas of Zanzibar City: Stone Town and Ng’ambo. The first is today a World Heritage Site and was formerly home to the colonial elite, while the latter was established to house the native Africans. I have researched how this division of the city is present in various structures throughout history up to this day and what consequences it might have. How can someone completely from the outside, with no personal experience of this city, take on an architectural project that aims to speak to both sides of the story? My project includes an observation tower placed on the border between the two sides of the city, which is meant to lead the visitors to question the layout of their surroundings and view Zanzibar from a new perspective, literally. My hope is also to start a conversation regarding architecture and place, and our role as architects in a globalized world.