Renovation of the Ganvié Lake City: towards the construction of 250 modern homes

The traditional structures of Ganvié, emblematic of the lakeland culture, face increasingly critical challenges: fragile roofs, dilapidated structures, risk of collapse, and growing vulnerability to the effects of climate change. Confronted with this reality, the Benin authorities have decided to act.

With a vision of renovation preserving the living environment and local identity, the “Reinvent the lakeland city of Ganvié” project plans, eventually, the construction of 1,000 modern lakeland homes, with an initial phase of 250 units. This initiative aims to significantly improve the living conditions of the population, while ensuring the safety and durability of the infrastructures.

Before the large-scale deployment, the government has opted for a decisive step: the creation of prototypes. These pilot homes will allow the testing of materials, construction techniques, and integrating into the lake environment, with the goal of validating a suitable, resilient, and accessible model for local communities.

The Council of Ministers has thus authorized the contracting with a specialized company, known for its expertise in the use of durable materials suitable for aquatic environments. The selected company has already presented samples conforming to the technical requirements of the project owner.

This prototyping phase marks a strategic turning point. It lays the technical and social foundations for an ambitious but inclusive requalification of Ganvié, a gem of Benin’s heritage. The wager is clear: to combine tradition and modernity to make this lakeland city an example of successful adaptation to contemporary challenges.