Architecture of Senegal

Senegambia encompasses the modern day country of Senegal and Gambia. Senegambian architecture is architecture originating from both nations. Over the years Senegambian architecture includes multiple types of architectural styles depending on the ethnicity, or region.

Senegal postcard 1910.

Pre-Colonial or Traditional Senegalese Architecture

A defining characteristic of Senegalese architecture due to climate, it differs greatly from other architectural styles in the Sahel that rely heavily on mud-brick. Traditional buildings typically use mud, brick, and wood. These materials were used to build houses, mosques, and other types of housing.

Tradition Peul(Fula) house

Houses were typically made of a round hut, made of wood, leaves or thatch covering it.

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  Dakar 1910
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  Traditional Dakar village
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  Dakar 1914

Case à impluvium (sur le modèle traditionnel) dans le campement villageois intégré d'Enampor (Casamance, Sénégal).

Colonial Architecture

Dakar French Hotel

Senegal has an extensive history with the french, as the french have had settlements since 1659. French architecture is found throughout senegal in hotels, administrative buildings, built usually through the same , colonial architectural styles found in other parts of the world with french colonialism. This saw the wide spread adoption of modernist style buildings.

French Settler

Modern Style

Modern Senegalese architecture, draws from modernist, European influence, including islamic influence, like the Grand Mosque of Dakar.

Grand mosque of Dakar

Grand Mosque of Dakar, Senegal Große Moschee von Dakar, Senegal