Ecotourism Center in Cameroon

2015 — Masterplan and landscape design · AGRIPO (through UN online volunteers program)

Lead Architect · Systems Designer

architecture bio-inspired design sustainability community design

Context

Masterplan and landscape design developed for AGRIPO (Agriculteurs Professionnels du Cameroun), a local NGO based in Tayab’s community. The project proposes a sustainable framework for local ecotourism that strengthens environmental stewardship and community participation.

The site is located along a departmental road, connecting several villages in Cameroon, and covers 10,000 m² wwithin a broader natural corridor, integrating two existing cabins into a cohesive ecological system. The masterplan enhances these structures through spatial, ecological, and experiential strategies that invite visitors to connect with nature through landscape, while supporting local traditions.

*Masterplan layout.* Integration of existing ecolodges, activity areas, and ecological zones.

Challenge

How can architecture and landscape design foster ecological awareness while minimizing environmental impact?

The project explores how design can mediate the relationship between people and their natural surroundings through sensory experiences related to local ecosystems. It approaches architecture and landscape as interconnected systems that evolve together — where spatial design becomes a catalyst for environmental empathy, collective learning, and sustainable coexistence.

Edible garden diagram — *Edible garden design sequence.* (from left to right) [1]. Rotational crops (vegetables and aromatic herbs) surrounding flowering plants such as *Tabebuia rosea* and *Agapanthus*. [2]. An *Allium* zone is introduced around the ecolodges to repel mosquitoes. [3]. Fruit trees — avocado, tangerine, and safou — are added for food and shade, complemented by legumes that enrich the soil. [4]. Native *Baobab* and *Moabi* trees complete the composition, reinforcing the site’s ecological continuity and cultural identity.

Outcome

The Ecotourism Masterplan envisions a modular and low-impact system where built and natural environments coexist. It defines three main circulation paths: a bicycle route connecting nearby settlements, a trail to the fishing platform, and an internal circuit linking ecolodges with activity zones such as beekeeping and birdwatching. Each route merges recreation and education, allowing visitors and residents to experience the landscape as a shared, evolving ecosystem.

Landscape strategies include edible gardens with tomatoes, radishes, and cumin (rotational crops); fruit trees and native species such as Baobab and Moabi for orientation; and mosquito-repellent plants near the ecolodges. These layers of vegetation create microclimates and enhance biodiversity, transforming the site into a living laboratory for ecological awareness and coexistence.

Notes

Conceived and developed as an independent architectural and landscape design project for AGRIPO (Agriculteurs Professionnels du Cameroun), carried out through a volunteer collaboration facilitated by the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Online Volunteering service.
Tools and resources: AutoCAD, SketchUp, Adobe Illustrator, and Photoshop.
Key concepts: sustainable planning, ecological restoration, participatory design, and community resilience.

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