Authors : Nyangon Simo Eric Frank Hervé; Dr. Bwemba Charles; Edgar Baden Baden

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 5 - May

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/4vuraenn

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/54vsk642

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26may2126

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Abstract : Colonial architectural heritage in Sub-Saharan Africa faces increasing threats from urban modernization, land pressure, and prolonged neglect. In Douala, Cameroon, the historic district of Bonanjo still preserves some of the last remaining examples of German colonial architecture, among which the Woermann House stands out as a significant latenineteenth-century brick building. Its progressive degradation reflects a broader regional crisis affecting colonial heritage. This study proposes and evaluates an innovative rehabilitation project for the Woermann House grounded in the principles of reversibility and adaptability, and structured around the concept of Living Memory. Through a multidisciplinary methodology combining historical research, field diagnostics, stakeholder surveys, and comparative analysis with reference projects such as the Palais de Lomé (Togo) and the Gaîté Lyrique (Paris), the research establishes a comprehensive diagnosis of the building and formulates a program of spatial and temporal adaptability. The proposed intervention combines the faithful restoration of the historic exterior envelope with a freely reinvented interior in which each space accommodates two complementary functions throughout the day: cultural transmission and memory-related activities in the morning, and contemporary creative and recreational activities in the afternoon. This dual program is made possible by a system of suspended movable partitions, retractable furniture, and a mobile stage. The evaluation of social, environmental, economic, and architectural impacts demonstrates that heritage rehabilitation constitutes not merely a technical operation but a sustainable cultural, social, and strategic act. The findings offer practical insights for architects, urban planners, and policymakers seeking to preserve colonial heritage while responding to contemporary community needs in African cities.

Keywords : Adaptive Rehabilitation, Reversibility, Spatial and Temporal Flexibility, Colonial Heritage, Woermann House, Living Memory, Bonanjo, Douala.

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