I
The House as Cultural Criticism
Rethinking dwelling as a question that interrogates inherited models of architecture, ownership and progress.
LAUGE · Equatorial Guinea · Nairobi 2026
The House
Holds
How is a house built?
From Equatorial Guinea to the inaugural Pan-African Architecture Biennale.
Nairobi, Kenya · September 2026
02 · The Project
An audiovisual and installation-based project on how we dwell.
LAUGE represents Equatorial Guinea at the inaugural Pan-African Architecture Biennale.
The project explores the house not as a finished object but as a living, relational and collective process shaped by local knowledge, care and memory.
Through voices, archives and contemporary recordings, The House Holds brings together architecture, culture and future imaginaries, opening a space for shared authorship and collective imagination.
Local KnowledgeCareMemoryCollective AuthorshipDwellingArchitectureFuture Imaginaries
03 · The Biennale
Shifting the Center,
from Fragility to Resilience.
The first architecture biennale of this scale on the African continent — a gathering that places African voices, practices and ecologies at the centre of contemporary architectural debate.
Nairobi, Kenya · September 2026
51
African countries
10,000+
Expected attendees
500K+
Online engagement
∞
Global architecture network
04 · The Project
What holds the house?
II
Architecture as a Network of Care
Buildings as relationships — between people, materials, ecologies and generations of knowledge.
III
Dismantling Authorship
Moving beyond the singular architect-author toward collective, anonymous and intergenerational practices.
IV
The Futures Are Already Here
Vernacular knowledge as a contemporary technology — sustainable, resilient and continually adaptive.
05 · Format
A short film and an adaptable installation.
The project takes shape as an audiovisual piece and a modular installation.
Through voices, images, archives and contemporary recordings, it explores the house as a living process shaped by memory, care and collective knowledge.
Designed to travel, the project can adapt to different contexts — from the Pan-African Architecture Biennale in Nairobi to cultural institutions, universities and public programmes beyond the exhibition itself.
06 · Strategic Value
Why this project matters.
The House Holds operates at the intersection of architecture, cultural production, sustainability and international exchange.
— Architecture & Design
A reflection on dwelling, collective authorship and contemporary architectural practice.
— ESG & Sustainability
Vernacular knowledge as a source of resilient, low-impact and adaptive futures.
— Art & Culture
An audiovisual and installation-based project with a strong curatorial and editorial approach.
— Impact & Diaspora
A platform connecting Equatorial Guinea, Africa, Europe and international audiences.
07 · The Journey
Beyond
Nairobi.
The project is conceived as a travelling platform that continues generating dialogue through exhibitions, screenings, conversations and institutional collaborations.
- September 2026
Pan-African Architecture Biennale
Nairobi - November 2026
IV Architecture Week
Malabo and Bata - November – December 2026
Casa de l'Arquitectura
Barcelona World Capital of Architecture - February 2027
Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (CCCB)
Barcelona - March 2027
Museu Tàpies
Barcelona - April 2027
Howard University · Hofstra University
Washington D.C. · New York
08 · Team
The people behind The House Holds.
Laida Memba Ikuga
Architecture · Research · Curatorship
Xavi Rodríguez Soriano
Architecture · Education · Cooperation
Ursicino Endaman Nsé
Architecture
Matilda Vidal de Llobatera
Audiovisual Direction · Production
09 · Partnerships
Partnership Opportunities.
01
Main Partner
Lead institutional or corporate partner anchoring the project across the full programme from Nairobi to Barcelona.
02
Supporting Partners
Organisations contributing to specific chapters of the project, exhibitions or public programmes.
03
Strategic Partners
Cultural, academic and diplomatic allies amplifying reach across Africa, Europe and the Americas.
04
In-kind Collaborations
Material, technical, editorial and logistical contributions essential to the audiovisual and installation work.
10 · Contact
Let's build a meaningful connection.
We welcome conversations with institutions, cultural organisations, universities, foundations, sponsors and collaborators interested in architecture, cultural production, sustainability and international exchange.
General enquiries
hola@lau-ge.org