Header: Courtesy of Africa Design School
OGOUN – Goddess of Iron and Courage is a concept for a Vodun temple in Benin developed by a student from Africa Design School in Cotonou, François Abatan. Produced alongside Sanny Axelle and Gnimadi Carol, under Professor Exaucé Koutempa, the project was recognised at the inaugural Africa International Design Awards, where it received the “Emerging Architect of the Year 2026” award and won the “Religious & Spiritual Building Architecture” category.
A first look into Ogoun
The temple is dedicated to Ogoun, also written as Ogun or Gou depending on the cultural context. In Fon culture, in the area of present-day Benin, Ogoun is a Vodun divinity associated with iron, smithing and war.
For the design, the team decided on a circular sanctuary, enclosed by a peripheral wall of local brick. The circle is used as a sign of unity, protection and continuity, but it also helps guide movement towards the middle, where the statue of Ogoun stands. In the renderings, the temple looks almost like an oasis, a compact sacred garden, with the greenery surrounding the central shrine, reached by paths from different directions.
A simple yet ethereal temple
Inside the sanctuary, the golden statue of the goddess stands atop a silver metal base, bringing about tonalities linked to iron, forging and sacred power. Simple plants and the brick wall surround it, ensuring that attention is kept on the figure. An oculus above the sanctuary brings daylight down onto the statue in an effort to connect the spiritual and earthly worlds. This element has an extra role: the contrast between the lightened-up statue and the shaded walls directs the visitors’ eyes toward the sacred Ogoun.
The surroundings are filled with palms, shrubs and low plants that frame the routes leading towards the sanctuary. The open layout allows a subtle breeze to take over the temple, while the vegetation helps reduce heat build-up.
In this award-winning concept, Vodun rituals meet local materials and traditional building methods, creating a temple where worship, construction and cultural memory are merged together.
Project information
Lead Designer: Francois ABATAN
Design Team: Sanny Axelle, GNIMADI Carol
University: Africa Design School
Professor: Koutempa
Location: Benin
