8 Architecture Projects That Showcase African Innovation

The intense heat, different levels of local construction knowledge and the availability of materials all factor into designs.

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Although the Western media tends to focus on the humanitarian side of architecture in Africa, the continent is home to amazing design of all varieties. While it is certainly important to build schools, hospitals, and housing — too easily taken for granted in the Western world — it is also worth examining the general level of creativity of all African architecture, humanitarian or not.

There are many challenges to building there. The intense heat, different levels of local construction knowledge, and the availability of materials all factor into designs. However, with a little ingenuity, some incredible things can happen.

Here are some of our favorite projects from Africa in the Architizer database.

High School Jean Mermoz by TERRENEUVE Architectes, Dakar, Senegal

This simple, clean school building was built with local construction knowledge, and its terra-cotta color is derived from its surroundings.

British Council by Dive Architects, Khartoum, Sudan

This refurbishment incorporates a brise-soleil wall made from locally available concrete blocks, as well as a more extensive reorganization of the internal spaces.

School Expansion by GoDesign Inc, Ethiopia

Because the nearest market is two hours away, the architects built the walls out of rocks. This material makes the building’s thermal mass larger than other construction techniques.

Ethiopia Dutch Embassy by Bjarne Mastenbroek and Dick van Gameren, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

The untreated concrete is the same red tint as the earth, and a surrounding eucalyptus forest provides a serene backdrop.

Container Medical Compound for the Salam Centre, Khartoum, Sudan

An exterior bamboo brise-soleil panel system protects the shipping-container structure from the sun.

Butaro Doctors’ Housing by MASS Design Group, Butaro, Rwanda

This doctor’s housing was developed alongside local artisans and builders using an innovative compressed stabilized earth block (CSEB) fabrication. It was meant to give locals new skills that they could utilize after the designers were gone.

Makoko Floating School by NLÉ Works, Lagos, Nigeria

In the water community of Makoko, this mobile school travels around offering education. It is a prototype for addressing the social and physical challenges of Makoko as well as other water-based coastal communities.