in Laongo, the astonishing “village-opera” by architect Francis Kéré, winner of the 2022 Pritzker Prize

Designed by the German director Christoph Schligensief, now deceased, the village, hidden in the landscape, was built in the early 2010s by Francis Kéré who this week became the first African architect to obtain the highest distinction of the profession. .

Erected on twenty hectares, in the middle of a granite field, this cultural and artistic education project is built in the form of a spiral, like a spiral, with twenty-six buildings housing workshops, a health center, guest houses and a school. Eventually, “opera”a 700-seat covered performance and exhibition hall is to be built in the center of the buildings.

Installed at the top of a hill, the buildings mixing plants and granite rocks are in perfect harmony. Local materials such as clay, laterite, granite, and wood were used for the construction, to allow the site to withstand the test of climatic conditions, such as the extreme heat frequent in the region, explains Motandi Ouoba, administrator of the “village-opera”.

“These are local materials that the architect found on site: blocks of compressed earth bricks taken from the site, cobblestones made from granite”, he lists. Francis Kere “starts from the simplest material, which we commonly have (…) that our parents used and he makes something noble out of it. It’s the earth, it’s all that’s around us, when he brings them together, he brings to life something that is magnificent“, he adds.

On the village-opera, the immense roofs overhang the walls while the ventilation of the rooms allows to have low temperatures even when the thermometer displays more than 40 degrees.

“By building on the existing, he managed to ensure that our buildings are bioclimatic with a double ceiling and openings to dissipate hot air” explains Mr. Ouoba.

At the health center, the consultation and hospitalization rooms have, like the other buildings, dozens of long windows that slide upwards. “With so many openings, patients feel less isolated by hospitalization. They have a view of the landscape”says Issa Ouédraogo, a doctor.

And as for the spacious classrooms, their sleek style, illuminated by daylight, contrasts 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 well and study”, rejoices Edwige Compaoré, teacher of the CM1 class. “Here, the architecture of the 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 director of the school Abdoulaye Ouédraogo, also an actor and playwright.

In addition to the six regular classrooms which bring together 181 students, a specific room is intended for music, dance, theatre, plastic arts, photography and audiovisual lessons.

the “village-opera” also serves as a creative residency site for artists, according to Motandi Ouoba.

“It’s comfortable as a place to live or work. It’s also beautiful and impressive. It reminds us that we can get something beautiful, durable and functional from local materials”says the administrator.

With its unique architectural style, the village attracts 2,500 visitors each year. And Motandi Ouoba hopes that the international recognition of Francis Kéré will help maintain the curiosity of visitors. “This very prestigious prize is the pride of everyone, especially at these times when Burkinabè news 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 welcomes.