A space dedicated to sub-Saharan Africa at Batimat 2015 presented current architecture opportunities in six countries experiencing sustained growth: Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Gabon, Nigeria, Senegal and Chad. Development in Africa as a whole brings up the question of local and international participation.
Most African architects have to study abroad because architecture schools are rather limited in their home countries. After achieving their certificates, they often go back home to incorporate this knowledge into their culture, creating harmonious structures.
Francis Kéré of Kéré Architecture, born in the Burkinabe village of Gando, trained in Berlin but later returned to Gando. He hopes to help Gando move away from the Western “one size fits all” methods. Kéré explains in this video how building in Gando is completely different from building in the Western world, and it’s very important to understand the culture of the people.
Other architects to connect with: Kunlé Adeyemi at NLE, David Adjaye at Adjaye Associates, Christian Benimana at Mass Design Group and Mphethi Morojele at MMA Architects
