Francis Kere: sustainable architect goes global

The bricks are local, the ventilation is open-air and a towering baobab anchors the space: architect Francis Kere’s new building in Dakar is both sustainable and distinctly African.
A dual national of Burkina Faso and Germany, Kere is the only African to have won the Pritzker Prize (2022), architecture’s highest honour. His Berlin-based firm’s latest project, the Goethe-Institut cultural centre in Senegal’s capital, reflects his signature approach: simple, local materials paired with designs that are both functional and visually striking.
Kere’s work began in Africa using bioclimatic principles that respond to climate and local resources. As his portfolio expands to Europe and the Americas, with projects planned in cities such as Las Vegas and Rio de Janeiro, he remains committed to those roots.
“If you give me sand, mud and bamboo, I can guarantee you I will create a project for you”, he said during the building’s inauguration. “If you add steel, I will go further”.

Originally from the village of Gando in Burkina Faso, Kere moved to Germany on a carpentry scholarship before studying architecture. His first project, the Gando Primary School completed in 2001, involved local labour and materials. Using clay bricks and an elevated roof for ventilation, the design offered thermal comfort in a hot climate.
Those same principles guide his Dakar project, a $4 million facility where passive cooling reduces reliance on air conditioning. Perforated walls made from West African red clay enable cross-ventilation, while a central baobab tree — a traditional gathering point — serves as the building’s focal space.
“I told myself, the baobab should be the centre, it is where everyone will meet”, Kere said.
He argues that modern construction has become overly dependent on glass and concrete, overlooking sustainable alternatives. With support from policymakers and designers, he believes bioclimatic architecture could play a key role in reducing energy consumption, particularly amidst global energy challenges.

“Rethinking how we build our cities can significantly reduce energy use”, he said, noting that even large-scale projects can integrate efficient material choices.
Kere’s global reach continues to grow. In Burkina Faso, he recently completed a mausoleum for Thomas Sankara, part of a wider memorial park. Despite ongoing insecurity in the region, he remains active, building schools and community structures.
Elsewhere, his firm is designing a museum in Las Vegas using local materials and in Brazil he has planned the Biblioteca dos Saberes, a cultural centre he describes as a “house of wisdom”.
Reflecting on his expanding international work, Kere remains mindful of his origins.
“The only thing I worry about”, he said, “is being taken away from Africa”. — AFP