Sustainable Building
Building With Earth: The Visionary Architecture of Diébédo Francis Kéré
One Earth Brick at a Time
Earthen Elegance — A Sustainable Design Revolution
Imagine buildings that are not only aesthetically pleasing, but also environmentally responsible, culturally rich and perfectly adapted to their climate.
This is the vision that Diébédo Francis Kéré, a globally renowned architect, brings to life through his innovative use of earth as a primary building material.
Who is Diébédo Francis Kéré?
Born in Gando, Burkina Faso — aka “The Land of Upright Men” — Kéré’s childhood experiences heavily influenced his architectural philosophy.
Witnessing the limitations of traditional, often inadequate structures in Burkina Faso, he developed a deep understanding of the need for sustainable and culturally sensitive architecture. The small childhood classroom in Tenkodogo where he first attended school, was constructed with cement blocks and lacked ventilation and light. Trapped in the extreme climate with over one hundred classmates for hours at a time, he vowed to one day make schools better.
“Good architecture in Burkina Faso is a classroom where you can sit, have light that is filtered, entering the way that you want to use it, across a blackboard or on a desk. How can we take away the heat coming from the sun, but use the light to our benefit? Creating climate conditions to give basic comfort allows for true teaching, learning and excitement.” — Diébédo Francis Kéré
In 1985 on a vocational scholarship to Berlin, Kéré was learning to make roofs and furniture by day while attending secondary schools classes at night.
He was awarded a scholarship to attend The Technical University of Berlin in 1995, graduating in 2004 with an advanced degree in architecture.
From Burkina Faso to Global Recognition
Kéré’s career is a testament to his dedication to social responsibility and environmental sustainability.
He established his architectural firm, Kéré Architecture in Berlin focusing on projects in Africa as a whole and in particular his home country, Burkina Faso. Kéré’s architectural portfolio boasts numerous impactful projects, each showcasing his unique design philosophy and commitment to social good.
Here are a few notable examples of his work:
1. Gando Primary School, 2001, Burkina Faso
True to his promise to build better schools he established the Kéré Foundation which he used to fund raise for a school in his native Gando. His first building was the Gando Primary School which was built by locals using indigenous materials under his guidance and expertise.
The Gando Primary School went on to win Kéré the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2004.
2. National Park of Mali, 2010, Mali
Marking the 50th anniversary of Mali, Kéré added additional buildings to the National Park in Bamako, Mali’s capital to unite the neglected botanical and zoological gardens. The buildings were clad in natural stone found locally and were designed to provide ample shade and comfort for visitors in scorching African heat.
3. Centre de Santé et de Promotion Sociale, 2014, Burkina Faso
Built by local workers and used local materials including clay, wood and stone, the medical centre was designed with an adaptable structure that incorporated passive ventilation and solar energy systems, as well as water collection and management systems.
4. Léo Surgical Clinic & Health Center, 2014, Burkina Faso
The Léo Surgical Clinic & Health Center was built in 2014 in Burkina Faso.
It consists of a collection of modules arranged along a central street. The modules are constructed using rammed earth. Colourful bay windows adorn the walls at varying heights across the facades of each module.
The health centre includes surgical facilities, in-patient wards and a maternity unit and serves community of 50,000 people.
5. Lycée Schorge Secondary School, 2017, Burkina Faso
In 2017, Kéré designed the C-shaped Lycée Schorge Secondary School located in Koudougou, Burkina Faso.
Using locally sourced laterite stone and wood, the school is made up of 9 interconnected modules arranged in a ring formation. Wind catching towers protruding from the roofs provide cooling for the interiors. This structure is true to Kéré’s philosophy of always incorporating local materials in contemporary buildings.
The modules house the school’s classrooms, administration offices as well as a dental clinic for students.
Other Projects Designed by Kéré
These include:
6. Startup Lions Campus, 2021, Kenya
Terracotta-hued towers reminiscent of termite mounds are a distinct feature of the Startup Lions Campus in Kenya.
Built from locally sourced quarry stone and finished with terracotta coloured concrete plaster, building techniques chosen for low cost and utilising skills of the local community. The tall ventilation towers modelled on termite mounds built by termite colonies in the surrounding area, help cool the interior of the building by venting warm air upwards as cooler fresh air is brought in at lower level openings. This techniques is known as the stack effect or chimney effect.
The Startup Lions campus, a non-profit organisation, offers young Kenyans free training in information and communications technologies (ICT).
The Pritzker Prize
Kéré’s groundbreaking work has garnered international recognition, culminating in him being awarded the prestigious Pritzker Prize in 2022, making him the first architect from Africa to receive this honour.
The Pritzker Prize is awarded annually to living architects in recognition of significant achievements in architecture. It is often referred to as “architecture’s Nobel” and is the profession’s highest honour. It comes with US$100,000 prize money and a bronze medallion.
The Praemium Imperiale
The Praemium Imperiale is an annual award by the Japan Art Association for achievements in the 5 fields of human endeavour: Painting, Sculpture, Architecture, Music and Theatre/Film.
“By combining local materials and skills with innovative design and smart engineering, while maintaining a focus on working with local communities, Diébédo Francis Kéré has transformed architecture not only in Burkina Faso but also across Africa and beyond,” read the jury citation.
Kéré was honoured with the Praemium Imperiale in 2023.
Why Earth? Unveiling the Advantages of Earthen Architecture
Kéré’s choice of earth as his primary building material is not only an matter of aesthetics, it is a carefully considered approach with numerous benefits and here are just a few of the benefits:
Sustainability Champion: Earth is abundant and a readily available, renewable resource, minimising environmental impact compared to conventional materials such as concrete and steel.
Locally Sourced, Culturally Rooted: Using earth reduces the need for long-distance transportation of materials, reducing carbon footprint and supporting local economies. Additionally, it strengthens the connection to local traditions and cultural heritage.
Natural Insulation: Earthen structures excel at providing natural insulation, keeping interiors cool in hot climates and reducing the need for energy-intensive cooling systems.
With collaboration being one of the central themes in Kéré’s work, I hope in the future that Open Source Ecology Africa (OSEA) will be able to engage Kéré Architecture to design Open Source microfactories and open source ecology campuses and living quarters throughout the African continent.
