The deadline for final project submissions is Thursday 8 June 5PM UTC

The area is historically significant because it is the site of the original Granville Town, the second settlement of freed slaves in Freetown. Bai Bureh Road is one of two main roads linking the Central Business District (CBD) of Freetown to the east of the city. The proposed site was considered as it is based in the east of Freetown, an area that is typically overlooked for development. Additionally, the stadium is the only location in the east that is available for large public gatherings and sports events. 

With Freetown’s rapid population growth, there’s increasing pressure on the existing transport services and infrastructure. For instance, poorly-maintained and restricted roads as well as an increase in private and informal public transit operations have resulted in high levels of congestion, greenhouse gas emissions, and air pollution in the city. In addition to these, there are challenges with accessibility and connectivity, particularly for the most vulnerable as well as competitiveness regarding the usage of road space.

The site should address the lack of suitable and modern recreational facilities in the east end of Freetown and propose indoor multi-use spaces for recreational activities i.e. meeting rooms for youth as well as indoor sports facilities to enable nearby public schools to use during major school events. Proposals should integrate urban greening strategies and nature-based solutions for the site. Finally, proposals should include strategies to make the site more accessible for primary and secondary school children with accessibility needs. 

Students should also consider vertical structures to make good use of the limited land available and the historical nature of the Railway Museum and Old Fourah Bay College buildings, and consider how the project can complement these spaces.

Approx. site area

8080m2, with a football pitch of 90m x 45m, and the surrounding secondary access road.

Key Information

Eastern Freetown has two-thirds of the city’s population (over 500k) and Attouga is the only stadium in the area. Its diverse use ensures wide demographic usage.

Priority areas & main expectations

The key priorities for the site include:

• Making the space more accessible, especially for vulnerable groups and people with disabilities.
• Proposing measures to the secondary access road to enhance the space and reduce congestion. 
• Introducing indoor multi-use, flexible and adaptable spaces for recreational activities, including temporary activities fit for changing community needs. 
• Integrating urban greening strategies and nature-based solutions.
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The Team-up contact form is now available. Click here to connect and team-up with other participants who are interested in the same site/city. The contacts provided can be found here.

Watch the recording of the Freetown Students Reinventing Cities Info Session with Mayor Aki-Sawyerr below!