Usually representing spirits, ancestors or the primordial couple, these figures were placed in shrines and treated with great respect. Through a wide range of style, scale, belief and function the couples depicted share a timeless, serene equality necessary to the continuity of their societies.

Diébédo Francis Kéré: Architecture is a Wake-Up Call

0 Read More

- 05 April 2015
- Edwin Seda
Videos , Contemporary African Directory , Sustainability , Selected Works , Architects , Architecture ,

Diébédo Francis Kéré was interviewed by Marc-Christoph Wagner.
Camera: Klaus Elmer
Editing by Kamilla Bruus
Produced by Marc-Christoph Wagner
Copyright: Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, 2014.
Supported by Nordea Fonden.

"Architecture is much more than art. And it is by far more than just building buildings". Meet award-winning architect Diébédo Francis Kéré from Burkina Faso in this interview about his architectural philosophy. Architecture, Kéré explains, is basically a social process - especially in the poorer and less developed regions of the world. It is about integrating the people, you build for, making them feel, it is their project. In this way, they identify with the building and are proud of it.

In his works, Kére chooses to work with local materials - wood and clay - although his buildings must have a modern articulation. The local community very often identify traditional materials with a premodern stage of development. Involving people means teaching them modern building skills, which they later on will need to maintain the building. Besides that, local materials are ideal in confronting the climatic challenges of the region: Clay keeps the heat out of the building and stabilizes the temperature inside, which is "better than artificial climatization", Kéré says. "If we learn to build with local materials, we have a future. Architecture can bring a lot to a local society like mine. Architecture makes people proud, simply proud. And that can generate a lot of energy."

CLICK TO REVIEW LINKED STORY

Opera Village Laongo/ Kéré Architecture
Initiated by the German film and theatre director, actor and artist Christoph Schlingensief, the Opera Village is an arts education project operated by Festspielhaus Afrika. When Francis Kéré first heard the idea of an opera house for Africa, he thought that it was crazy until he met Christoph...

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS

If you want your own avatar and keep track of your discussions with the community, sign up to archiDATUM >>

SELECTED WORKS

- The American University in New Cairo / Sasaki Associates
- 27 Mar 2016
Continuing on the work of pioneers like Hassan Fathy and Abdel Wahed El Wakil on critical Egyptian regionalism within the North African C...
- The Midden Garden Pavilion / Metropolis Design
- 22 Nov 2017
The project forms part of a larger renovation to a freestanding villa located high up on the slopes of the Vlakkenberg. The clients requi...
- The Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo Presidential Library and Museum / Page Think Architects
- 19 Jun 2015
The Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo Presidential Library and Museum is the first public facility in the country of Equatorial Guinea design...

CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN DIRECTORY

- Zliten Al-Asmariya University For Islamic Sciences/ RMJM
- 10 Apr 2015
The Zliten campus is a new branch of Al Asmariya University, located in the oasis town and fishing port of the same name, 120 kilometers ...
- The Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo Presidential Library and Museum / Page Think Architects
- 19 Jun 2015
The Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo Presidential Library and Museum is the first public facility in the country of Equatorial Guinea design...
- Christian Benimana on The Next Generation Of African Architects And Designers
- 12 Jan 2018
Christian Benimana wants to build a network of architects who can help Africa's booming cities flourish in sustainable, equitable ways --...