Building with the environment

Thursday, 21 July 2011

Diébédo Francis Kéré is an architect with a difference. He is a man with a vision, who serves as an inspiration to others. He believes not only in constructing physical buildings – but also in creating hope and making a real difference in people’s lives – especially to those who need it the most.

This West African architect builds with the environment – not against it or in spite of it – and has gained international recognition for his work. Most recently, he has won the prestigious Marcus Prize for Architecture, which acknowledges emerging global talents.

(Source: www.kere-architecture.com)

Born in Burkina Faso, Kéré grew up in the village of Gando, the first-born son of the chief. In 1998, he founded Bricks for the Gando Schools, a project to raise funds for a new primary school. When construction began, he used innovative techniques to adapt modern construction methods to the local environment and conditions.

Instead of constructing buildings of concrete, which fail after a few rainy seasons, Kéré believes in using local materials like clay and stone, which last longer in harsh African conditions. Natural ventilation is created through clever design and local manpower is used to build the project.

He received his architectural degree in 2004 at the School of Architecture in Berlin and founded Kéré Architecture, with future projects like building a school for girls in central India, a Red Cross museum in Switzerland and international conference centre in Ouagadougou.

Kéré received a standing ovation after his presentation at the 2011 Design Indaba, in which he said that African people should stop copying the Western way of building and should adapt their methods to their own needs.

The Marcus Prize comes with $100 000 in prize money, administered by the Marcus Corporation Foundation and administered by the School of Architecture and Urban Planning at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

One of the judges, Toshiko Mori, said Kéré won the prize because of his ability to translate western architectural traditions into indigenous processes and values.

“His desire to make sophisticated and uncompromised buildings with so few resources is an empowering and optimistic lesson to share with students.”