Building Knowledge, Not Just Structures: Redefining the Architect’s Role in Times of Uncertainty
Projects act as schools of construction, promoting knowledge sharing and sustainable practices in local contexts.
The first aspect of this practice relates to the use of regional materials and adapted techniques that enable the transfer of knowledge to the community.
Examples of Sustainable Practices
- The Gando Primary School in Burkina Faso, designed by Diébédo Francis Kéré, where classrooms were built with locally produced compressed earth blocks and community labor.
- The CEM Kamanar Secondary School in Thionck Essyl, Senegal, designed by dawoffice / Foundawtion, built with locally molded clay blocks arranged in modular vaults that ensure thermal comfort and low cost.
Beyond the physical result, the process left behind a functioning construction workshop, allowing nearby communities to replicate the model.
Author's summary: Architects redefine their role through sustainable practices.