concrete canopies and brick walls form central market in congo

Think Tank shapes a breathable market for Kinshasa, congo

THINK TANK completes the redevelopment of Kinshasa’s historic Zando Central Market in Congo, into a climate-responsive civic infrastructure designed to accommodate 20,000 vendors, nearly six times its original capacity. Once conceived for just 3,500 traders, the 1970s-era market had become dangerously overcrowded, unsanitary, and structurally exhausted. Located in the heart of the Congolese capital, the new 80,500-square-meter complex replaces the former building with a covered yet porous commercial environment that integrates retail, logistics, cold storage, food courts, and essential public services, including a fire station, police post, infirmary, and administrative facilities.

The structure is composed of open concrete frames topped by large mushroom-shaped slabs, an echo of the former market’s iconic roofscape. These canopies protect vendors and shoppers from solar radiation while allowing hot air to escape naturally through height differences in the structure. Terracotta brick facades wrap the market, patterned with moucharabieh-like perforations inspired by Congolese textiles. These screens allow air to pass through the building while filtering sunlight, maintaining comfort along the pedestrian walkways without mechanical intervention.

all images by Martin Argyroglo

an award-winning model of material restraint and climate logic

The redevelopment received the 2025 Holcim Foundation Award – Regional Winner (Middle East Africa), with the jury praising its structural clarity, contextual sensitivity, and use of only two primary materials, concrete and terracotta brick. The panel described the project as ‘a landmark for Kinshasa,’ highlighting its mushroom-shaped slabs and breathable facades as both technically effective and symbolically resonant.

Rather than importing mall typologies or air-conditioned commercial models, the Paris-based team at THINK TANK approached the project as an African market first and foremost. The architecture relies on passive principles, including thermal mass, cross-ventilation, stack effect, and deep shade.

The building is constructed almost entirely from two materials: concrete and brick. Both were selected not only for durability and performance, but also for their local availability. Concrete aligns with regional construction skills and structural demands, while brick has deep roots in Congolese architectural traditions.

To support local economies, three brick factories within 60 kilometers of the site were reactivated to supply the project. The material strategy also reduces operational complexity, with finishes being integrated into the structural logic, eliminating the need for layered systems or specialized maintenance. Elevators were replaced by gently sloped ramps, keeping the building low-tech and robust over time.

THINK TANK completes the redevelopment of Kinshasa’s historic Zando Central Market in Congo

water, plants, and urban biodiversity

The architects organize the plan around five open courtyards, introducing vegetation and daylight into the deep footprint of the market. These patios are planted with native species and function as microclimatic regulators, social gathering spaces, and biodiversity pockets. Planters are integrated into railings, and surrounding streets are lined with trees to form a green corridor connecting to Kinshasa’s nearby botanical garden. Rainwater is collected and stored in tanks, then reused for irrigation, cleaning, and fire safety. The system reduces dependence on municipal infrastructure while reinforcing the building’s resilience during heavy rains or service interruptions.

Before THINK TANK’s market redevelopment, Zando had become one of Kinshasa’s most precarious urban zones. Years of neglect had led to blocked streets, lack of sanitation, uncontrolled sprawl, and nightly violence. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the site was closed, creating an opportunity for authorities to initiate a full regeneration of the area.

The new structure reorganizes circulation, introduces fire protection systems, establishes waste management zones, and integrates security and healthcare services directly into the building.

a climate-responsive civic infrastructure designed to accommodate 20,000 vendors

participatory planning

The architects expanded the minimal original brief into a detailed program through workshops involving city officials, vendors, fire services, and municipal departments. Stalls are offered in multiple sizes, rented by linear meter or square meter, allowing vendors from different income levels to coexist. Informal trading areas are preserved rather than erased, acknowledging their central role in Congolese urban culture.

Universal access is built into the architecture. Wide, gently sloped ramps connect all levels, responding to the high number of disabled citizens in the Democratic Republic of Congo due to conflict and disease. This ensures that upper floors remain accessible without reliance on mechanical systems.

Visually, the design draws from both Congolese building traditions and the modernist legacy of African brutalism. The mushroom-shaped slabs, once a defining feature of the original market, are reinterpreted as structural, climatic, and symbolic devices. Their geometry provides shade, distributes heavy loads, and gives the building a recognizable civic identity. The terracotta facades use patterns inspired by wax textiles and tattoo motifs, combining ventilation with cultural reference. The natural color of local clay allows the building to sit within Kinshasa’s landscape without visual dominance.

the complex replaces the former building with a covered yet porous commercial environment