The city of Djenné is, together with its sister-city Timbuktu, one of the most important historical cities in Mali (West Africa), and was inhabited as early as the third century before Christ.
The city is famous for its unusual architecture, which has its roots in the 16th and 17th centuries. The influences of this period can still be seen today, which has resulted in an unusual form of construction, characterised by monumental architecture that is closely linked to the organically grown urban development structure. The mud buildings were built by a guild of masons and the city has stood for some time on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.
Since 1996, RDH has supervised, in the person of Pierre Maas (architect/partner), the restoration of this city, together with the Museum Volkenkunde in Leiden. Financial support has been provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The first phase is complete and has resulted in the restoration of about 100 houses, monuments and the mosque. The second phase has now been started, in which another 30 monuments will be restored.
