An intricately detailed balcony, a coat of fresh paint and large bay windows opening onto the street: this house, in Saint-Louis, northern Senegal, has regained its former glory.
The house is one of several that have recently been refurbished, part of a movement to renew the face of Saint-Louis, the former colonial capital of French West Africa, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000.
"We have to put this city on the cultural map of the continent," said Diaw, adding that he has already invested two million euros into the initiative. The conservation movement, which has been driven by private individuals and funded by public donors, is gaining momentum. That's despite UNESCO having long highlighted the"extremely poor" state of many buildings in Saint-Louis,"endangering their occupants" and"affecting the integrity and authenticity" of the city.
"When everything collapsed, I was very sad -- I would have liked it to be rebuilt as it was before," he said, standing in front of the ruined building, with large, rounded doors and vast rooms hinting at ancient splendour.One major problem when it comes to restoring the houses is the question of succession.
"There are also those who prefer modern comforts to the charm of old houses, those who do not respect standards because it is cheaper, and owners who have left the city and no longer want to invest," she noted.
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