The village created in Burkina by architect Francis Kéré, a mixture of art, education and ecology

Sturdy walls, blocks of laterite and giant ceilings perfectly blended with the landscape: the “opera-village” in Laongo created by the Burquinabé architect Francis Keré, the latest winner of the Pritzker Prize, is characterized by blending art, education and ecology.

Located in this village near the capital of Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou, it was originally conceived by the deceased German director Christoph Schligensief. At the beginning of 2010, it was materialized by Keré, who this week became the first African architect to win the Pritzker, the highest distinction within the profession.

This cultural and artistic education project that spans about twenty hectares, is designed in a spiral shape, with 26 buildings that house different workshops, a medical center, guest rooms and a school.

Finally, the so-called “opera”, a 700-seat indoor show and exhibition hall that will eventually see the light of day.

The buildings, which mix granite plants and rocks in perfect harmony, are located on the top of a hill. Local materials such as clay, laterite, granite and wood have been used in its construction. The goal is to make it resist the climatic conditions of the area, such as extreme heat, explains the resort's administrator, Motandi Ouoba.

Francis Kéré “starts from simple materials, which we have abundantly (...), that our parents used, and makes them something noble,” explains Ouba. “It is the earth, it is everything that surrounds us, when it unites them, it brings something that is magnificent to life,” he adds.

In the opera-village, the immense ceilings protrude from the walls while the ventilation of the rooms allows you to keep the temperature low inside, even when the thermometer outside is more than 40 degrees.

- “Bioclimatic buildings” -

“He managed to make our buildings bioclimatic, with double roofs and openings to dissipate hot air,” the administrator continues.

Like the rest of the buildings, the health center, and the consultation and hospitalization rooms have dozens of elongated windows that slide upwards. “With so many openings, patients feel less isolated by hospitalization. They have a view of the landscape,” explains Dr. Issa Ouédraogo.

As for the classrooms, spacious, bright and elegant, they contrast with the usual decor of other schools in the country. “We are proud of our school, which has a beautiful architecture with all the conditions to work and study well,” rejoices Edwige Compaoré, teacher of the CM1 class.

“The architecture of buildings changes everything. We are in perfect classes because it is very hot here and not everyone can afford fans or air conditioning,” adds the school's principal, Abdoulaye Ouédraogo, also an actor and playwright.

In addition to the six ordinary classrooms that accommodate 181 students, there is a specific classroom dedicated to music, dance, theater, plastic arts, photography and audiovisual classes. Not surprisingly, the place also serves as a creative residence for artists, recalls Ouoba.

- “Beautiful, sustainable and functional” -

“It's comfortable as a living or working environment. It's also beautiful and impressive. It reminds us that we can get something beautiful, sustainable and functional from local materials,” says the administrator.

With its unique architectural style, the village attracts around 2,500 visitors each year. And Motandi Ouoba hopes that Francis Kéré's international recognition will help keep visitors curious.

“This prestigious award is everyone's pride, especially at a time when news from Burkina Faso is marked by terrorist attacks. We are happy for Mr. Kéré but also for us who are among the first beneficiaries of his work,” he said he congratulates.

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