Phase 1 – Public Participation (2008): Community consultation and design workshops (Charettes) to determine the wants & needs for a small project serving the community. The community needs to express their ideas for what type of project (i.e. guest house, tea room etc) would be of most benefit to the people of Mamre and where it would be best located. We will also need to discuss ideas for how, once built, the project would be managed.

Phase 2 – Design process & material procurement (2008/09): The city made available a limited amount of funds to build a small building with the help of the community. It was agreed that a new  Info Centre for Mamre would be ideal & important to start with first. The site for the Info Centre would be a convenient and central location in the historical part of Mamre.  Eco Design Architects came up with a design and also oversaw the procurement of local and natural building materials such as thatching grass, stone, moon phase harvested timber and the production of 30 000 mud bricks.

Phase 3 – Heritage Building Project (2010): Finally the building of the Info Centre went on to site. The idea was that the project should have a strong focus on the reviving and transferring of old building techniques and skills. Most of the local participants that were involved in the material procurement are also part of the building process. Once completed the town of Mamre will have a new focal point where locals and visitors can meet, visit exhibitions or just inform themselves more about Mamre’s rich heritage.

For more information about the current status of this project please click here to go to the “Eco Design Architects” website!