Diébédo Francis Kéré Burkina Faso
Diébédo Francis Kéré (1965, Gando, Burkina Faso) is an architect who creates buildings of great beauty that meet people’s needs. He shows that architecture can be a generous profession dedicated to increasing people’s well-being. His designs are based on ecological principles and sustainability. He uses local materials and merges local building traditions with contemporary construction techniques. Kéré engages deeply with the local community to create a sense of pride and ownership in his projects. He explains his plans and methods, trains local people in modern construction techniques and employs them in the building process, so they are keen to maintain the structures and have the skills to undertake further development on their own.
Find the report from the 2017 Prince Claus Awards Committee here