francis kere seeks funding to complete gando campus atelier

francis kéré seeks funding to complete gando campus atelier
all images courtesy of kéré architecture

with work ongoing at the gando school campus in burkina faso, francis kéré has organized a benefit to help complete the site’s atelier structure. the project is an integral piece of the plan sitting alongside the primary school, school extension, library and teacher’s housing. the atelier will serve as a community center, focusing on the educational, cultural and sustainable needs of the village.

the community center will focus on the educational, cultural and sustainable needs of the village

the initial construction phases of the building were developed in conjunction with swiss-based academics from the accademia di architettura of mendrisio, as kéré explains, ‘the idea was to bring students to the construction site from the accademia di architettura who could help us to build. I wanted the students to identify themselves with the project, that’s why we wanted (them) to learn how to build with community’.

construction is ongoing at the school camppus in burkina faso

launched in november 2013, the project has been crowdfunded via betterplace.org and has reached 52% of the desired goal of €45,000. in order to complete the construction of the atelier as soon as possible, francis kéré and schulbausteine für gando have organized a charity gala in berlin that will include a lecture by francis kéré, an exhibition of his award-winning designs in gando, and an interactive model construction of the atelier – the primary focus of the function.

the initial construction phases of the building were developed in conjunction with swiss-based students

‘I personally come from gando and I know how difficult it is to acquire knowledge and education. through this center we are trying to deepen all the ideas we’ve acquired over the years of working here. we want to develop these ideas further and to transfer them to as many young people as possible’, continued francis kéré.

supporters who contribute €500 or more will receive an invitation to the exclusive event, which will be held on june 20th, 2014.

the project is currently seeking funding via betterplace.org