The need to create a university in Burkina Faso, Kere's homeland, is crucial - for a population of 20 million, the country has less than a dozen institutions of higher education. At the same time, the construction of buildings in a hot equatorial climate requires special approaches and architectural solutions.
In the design of the Institute of Technology of Burkina Faso, Kéré turns to classical African architectural traditions. This is manifested both in the use of materials with which the architect works here, and in the form of the building.
This is what the newly created Technological Institute of Burkina Faso looks like. Photo: Jaime Herraiz
The complex of a number of repeated modules, in which the boundaries of the educational premises are clearly visible even from the outside, was recreated in a "P"-shaped form. In this way, air constantly circulates between the courtyard and the premises of the institution. Around each classroom are shady corridors and passages framed by screens made of local eucalyptus trees.
Installed as an additional facade, they do not limit air exchange, but on the contrary, promote ventilation processes due to openings. At the same time, clay walls help keep the interior cool due to the hygroscopicity of the material.
This is what the newly created Technological Institute of Burkina Faso looks like. Photo: Jaime Herraiz
The entire campus was made from local clay. It was combined with concrete and then poured in place in large formwork. The formwork of the structure was designed so that it could be disassembled and rebuilt to create the next module. This approach made it possible to shorten the implementation period.
Scheme of the air conditioning system. Image: Kéré Architecture
Instead of windows, Kere uses shutters. Thanks to them, air ventilation occurs from the bottom up, and excess heat and moisture escapes through the double roof system according to the chimney principle. In addition, the use of shutters as elements of the roof and windows allows you to avoid direct sunlight and improve the quality of lighting in classrooms.
The air conditioning system works thanks to thoughtful design solutions. Photo: Jaime Herraiz
Some walls were replaced with so-called ekrats made of bamboo in order to improve air circulation. Photo: Jaime Herraiz
In order to protect the buildings from flooding during the rainy season, in the Kere project, he paid a lot of attention to the landscaping of the territories, since the Institute of Technology is located on a floodplain. Here, rainwater is directed to a large underground tank that is used to irrigate the mango plantations that grow on the campus.
Common spaces for recreation. Photo: Jaime Herraiz
Educational premises of the institute. Photo: Jaime Herraiz
This project demonstrates Francis Caré's architectural principles, which he adheres to in his work. Its architecture is focused on ensuring quality and democracy, rethinking traditional European approaches and innovative use of folk materials and techniques.
"I hope to change the paradigm, push people to dream and take risks. If you are wealthy, it does not mean that you should waste material. If you are poor, that means you should not try to create quality… Everyone deserves quality, everyone deserves luxury and everyone deserves comfort. We are interconnected, and the problems of climate, democracy, and scarcity concern us all."
The Pritzker laureate's portfolio includes schools, kindergartens, hospitals in several African countries, as well as buildings and temporary structures in the EU, Great Britain and the USA. Most of them use local materials and ecological and sustainable engineering solutions that can be implemented by local craftsmen.
The formation of Kere's professional approach to his projects is directly related to his origin - he was born in the small village of Gando, located in Burkina Faso. Having moved to Berlin in 1985, the future architect began to master carpentry and attend night school. For his special success, he was awarded a scholarship to study architecture at the Technical University of Berlin.
Francis Caret. Photo: PMA
While studying, he promised himself one day to improve schools in extreme climates, to make it possible for future generations to have "real learning, learning that will be exciting". For this purpose, in 1998, the architect founded the Kéré Foundation, whose activities were aimed at providing schoolchildren and students with comfortable premises.
Kere's first project was a primary school building in Gando, built in 2001. Under his clear leadership, the future educational institution was built independently by local residents. They created each part of the building by hand, guided by the architect's "inventive forms of local materials and modern techniques."
Primary school project in Gando. Photo: Erik-Jan Ouwerkerk
Over time, the simple Gando school, initially designed for 150 children, turned into a complex of modern buildings, where about seven hundred students now study. Later projects for its expansion include an extension, housing for teachers and a library.
In 2004, for this project, Kere received the Aga Khan Award as the best architectural concept that successfully meets the needs and aspirations of Muslim society, and in 2012, the Holcim Award for Sustainable Construction for the best visionary architectural proposal.
Primary school project in Gando. Photo: Erik-Jan Ouwerkerk
In 2005, after the first influential achievement, the architect opens his own studio, Kéré Architecture. Its activities are gradually expanding - social infrastructure institutions have begun to appear in Kenya, Mozambique and Uganda.
Secondary school in Shorg. Photo: Kéré Architecture
Secondary school in Shorg. Photo: Kéré Architecture
National Park in Mali. Photo: Iwan Baan
Kere's creative credo is to build "peaceful cities". And here, according to the architect, design comes to the fore - it should be practical, symbolic and biophilic.
In 2014, after a fire engulfed Burkina Faso's National Assembly during the revolution in the capital Ouagadougou, he unveiled a project aimed at making the new complex a symbol of the transparency and democracy that local protesters wanted from the new government.
Concept of the National Assembly of Burkina Faso: Kéré Architecture
In addition to this administrative building, Kere has established in Africa the National Assembly of Benin (Porto Novo, Republic of Benin), as well as the TStartup Lions Campus (Turkana, Kenya), an information and communication technology campus and a recently completed Institute of Technology.
TStartup Lions Campus. Photo: Kéré Architecture
Through an architectural expression deeply rooted in his upbringing and Gando building experience, Kere showed West African traditions to the world. He believes that the communication between architecture and nature should be embodied in the projects.
For example, for the Serpentine Pavilion (2017), the Pritzker laureate designed an indigo-colored structure with a lattice canopy and a courtyard. Its main feature is the hole in the center of the roof, designed for the drainage of rainwater, emphasizing the scarcity of water that is currently felt all over the world.
Serpentine Pavilion. Photo: Iwan Baan
Gradually, Kere's projects, focused primarily on practicality, go beyond the borders of Africa. He begins to create structures in Denmark, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Great Britain and the USA.
Some of his significant works: Xylem at Tippet Rise Art Center (2019, Montana, USA), Léo Doctors' Housing (2019, Léo, Burkina Faso), Lycée Schorge Secondary School (2016, Koudugu, Burkina Faso), National Park Mali (2010, Bamako, Mali) and Opera Village (Phase I, 2010, Laongo, Burkina Faso).
Xylem Pavilion at Tippet Rise Art Center. Photo: Iwan Baan
Xylem Pavilion at Tippet Rise Art Center. Photo: Iwan Baan
In the future, the scope of his activities expands - the architect begins to teach and share his own experience with students of the Graduate School of Design of Harvard University and the Yale School of Architecture.
In 2017, the future Pritzker laureate holds the position of professor at the Department of Architectural Design and Participation at the Technical University of Munich. In addition, Kéré is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (2018) and the American Institute of Architects (2012), as well as a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (2009).
Medical Center Center de Santé et de Promotion Sociale in Opera Village. Photo: Kéré Architecture
He has about a dozen prizes for his achievements, the last of which is the Pritzker Prize. Awarded for "empowering and reimagining communities through architecture", Kéré is the first African to receive the title of best architect.
And this is the most important page not only in his life and the existence of the world architectural community, but also for society in general, which needs qualitative changes.
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