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

- House 02 Hyde Park / Daffonchio & Associates Architects
- 19 Apr 2017
The house is set on a secluded, tranquil stand surrounded by established trees. The main house consists of 2 wings: the living wing and t...
- Pearl Bay Residence / Gavin Maddock Design Studio
- 29 Mar 2017
This contemporary home is located on South Africas’ West coast, 90kms north of Cape Town. Taking full advantage of the ocean views and re...
- Alice Lane Phase 1 Marsh / Paragon Architects
- 03 Oct 2016
The design of this building formed the last important piece of an urban puzzle. The volumes of the building needed to terminate views on ...

CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN DIRECTORY

- Volubilis / Kilo Architectures
- 26 May 2016
Set within the most visited archaeological site in the Kingdom of Morocco, this project seeks to enhance the historical and symbolic sign...
- White Cube/ OMA
- 26 Aug 2018
Located in the heart of a plantation system, the research centre designed by Rem Koolhas led OMA in Congo aims to become a vector for a s...
- Nigerian Cultural Centre and Millenium Tower / Studio Nicoletti Associati
- 08 May 2015
The Cultural Centre and the Millennium Tower of Nigeria, together with the National Square will make up a harmonious complex which will i...