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Gando Primary SchoolThe Gando Primary School is a school designed by architect Francis Kéré. After raising money through his foundation, Kéré Foundation e.V., he began construction on his very first building. After studying architecture in Europe, Kéré wanted to reinvest what he learned into his home village in Burkina Faso.
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Design Decision(s) |
In his design, Kéré considered cost, climate, resource availability, and construction feasibility. One of these design decisions was to use clay/cement hybrid bricks instead of bringing in steel and concrete. Clay is abundant in the area, making the construction much easier. These bricks also offer thermal protection from the hot climate of the region. The one downside of these bricks is the need of a tin roof to protect the walls from being damaged by rain. These metal roofs absorb heat from the sun, making the interior intolerably hot. To solve this issue, Kéré elevated the metal roof and used a perforated clay ceiling that allowed for plenty of ventilation.
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Social Impact |
This primary school involved a large population and when it was completed in 2001, it became a symbol of community pride and collectivity. Attendance at the school increased immediately and through this project, the community learned the new techniques which led to many other projects to support the sustainable development of the village. An extension to the primary school, housing for the teachers, a secondary school, a library and a women’s center were later built.
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