“A box made of concrete absorbs a lot of solar energy.” Francis Kéré

He received this honor for his exceptionally elegant and sustainable buildings, many of which have been created across the African continent – including, of course, our very own Opera Village in Burkina Faso. Kéré, who was born in Burkina Faso, has been our creative and visionary partner from the very beginning. His work has played a key role in shaping and developing the Opera Village. His commitment to education, culture, and community is reflected in every building he has designed for our project. After training as a carpenter, Kéré came to Germany on a scholarship, completed his secondary education, and went on to study architecture in Berlin. His breakthrough came with the construction of a school in his home village of Gando – built from clay bricks, a material that continues to inspire and define his work today. Read the full interview with Francis Kéré here!

Header image © Iwan Baan