Kéré designs Burundi health pavilions with local clay bricks and granite

Kéré Architecture has unveiled plans for a new healthcare facility for the NGO Ineza Clinic in the Bubanza region of Burundi. Located approximately 30 miles north of Bujumbura, the project aims to expand access to maternal and surgical care in a predominantly rural area. The firm's founder, Francis Kéré, recently spoke with Archinect about his design philosophy.

The design of the scheme consists of a multi-pavilion complex built primarily from locally sourced materials, including granite and clay bricks produced within a 20-mile radius of the site. Local labor and construction techniques have informed the building process, aiming to reduce costs and improve efficiency.

The programme is distributed across ten pavilions arranged along a zigzag that follows the site’s natural slope. Buildings are oriented to optimize natural ventilation and minimize the ne...