The architect in focus for the month of October is Francis Kéré (Burkina Faso, 1965).

Francis Kéré, a Burkina Faso-based architect, was named the 2022 Laureate of the Pritzker Architecture Prize. He is known for his innovative design approach and sustainable construction methods. Kéré’s work combines contemporary architecture with Burkinabe motifs. He engages locals, leverages their expertise, and uses indigenous materials, creating practical structures that meet community needs and budget constraints while exuding aesthetic charm.

His architectural journey began with the Gando Primary School in 2004, which he designed and built alongside locals. In 2005, he established Kéré Architecture GmbH and the Kéré Foundation e.V., a charitable entity focusing on Gando projects. Kéré has become one of the leading contemporary architects globally, blending utopian ideals with practical solutions. His work spans four continents and includes notable projects such as the Burkina Faso National Assembly, Lycée Schorge Secondary School, Léo Surgical Clinic and Health Centre, Serpentine Pavilion, and Xylem Pavilion at the Tippet Rise Art Centre.

His academic commitments at institutions like TU München, Harvard Graduate School of Design, Accademia di Architettura di Mendrisio, and Yale University further enrich his architectural journey. Kéré has also participated in solo and collective exhibitions at the Venice Biennale of Architecture, Museo ICO in Madrid, Architekturmuseum in Munich, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Source: Kéré Architecture.