Departments > Landscapes

School-building site for the rehabilitation of the "Migan building"

Dates: 29 May to 31 August 2007
Location: Porto-Novo (Benin)

Context: The municipality of Porto-Novo has named EPA head of works for its safeguarding and rehabilitation programme of the immovable heritage of the historic centre of the city. This programme has three main components: the drawing up of a juridical and economic model for the rehabilitation of the old private buildings of the town, the setting up of a municipal structure for the management of heritage and tourism, and the implementation of a pilot operation which takes the form of a "school-building site" (a building site used to train people) to launch the rehabilitation process.
The present page talks about the pilot rehabilitation operation on the Migan building, which will become the headquarters of the municipal services for heritage and tourism. The building is the subject of a rehabilitation lease between the Migan family "owner" and the town hall of Porto-Novo "leaseholder".

The building was selected for its history, its strategic geographic position and for its architectural richness. It comprises two levels, with annexes and a courtyard. Its total surface is approximately 600 M2.
The launch of the "school-building site" is based on an agreement between EPA and Porto-Novo secondary schools which offer professional teaching in building, and on contracts with specialised artisans.

Objective: In view of the school-building site approach it was necessary to identify the major specialisation fields needed for the implementation of rehabilitation campaigns and ensure general supervision by teachers of technical and professional secondary schools.
- mobilise local know-how concerning traditional materials and building techniques;
- transmit these know-how to the pupils of technical and professional secondary schools, workers and artisans of various building specialties participating in the operation;
- draw up a reference system of specific activities concerning the rehabilitation of immovable cultural heritage of Porto-Novo and the reference system of competences associated with it.

Targets: Artisans - Students of technical secondary schools - Master artisans

Expected results:
- State of the art rehabilitation of the Migan building, "House of Heritage and Tourism".
- A document containing:
• a reference system of specific activities concerning the rehabilitation of immovable cultural heritage of Porto-Novo
• a reference system of competences associated with specific rehabilitation activities for immovable cultural heritage of Porto-Novo
• a synthesis of internship reports for each specialty, testifying to the acquisition of ancient know-how in the area of building.

Methodology:
- Identify necessary specialties for a school-building site approach of rehabilitation;
- Identify different specialties;
- Elaborate a draft reference system of specific activities for the rehabilitation of old buildings of Porto-Novo ;
- Elaborate a draft reference system of competences: associate to each specific activity intermediary and terminal competences as well as the technical know-how associated with it that each learner should acquire;
- Choose master artisans specialised in rehabilitation work as well as other trainers;
- Elaborate an evaluation and validation protocol for acquired competences; this protocol will enable the establishment of a "heritage worker or artisan" qualification certificate.
- Choose learners;
- Organise seven workshops, each with its head: the master artisan of the specialty, a head of works, a civil engineer, an administrative and financial coordinator and a director of operations.

Head of works: Town of Porto-Novo

Conception, follow-up and control: Ecole du Patrimoine Africain - EPA

Financing: Mairie de Porto-Novo, Ville de Lyon et le Grand Lyon, Culture 2000, Villes Unies contre la pauvreté

Contact:
Pôle Territoires et Patrimoines, EPA, 01 BP 2205 Porto-Novo ; Tel. (+229) 20 21 48 38 ; Fax : (+229) 20 21 21 09 ;