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Ouagadougou Parliament House
Ouagadougou Parliament House
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Project Featured on Jul 11, 2017
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Ouagadougou Parliament House
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Project Featured on Jul 11, 2017
Firm
STATUS
Under Construction
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After 31 years of dictatorial rule, the people of Burkina Faso rose up and ousted their former president following a violent revolt in 2014. In protest of the old regime, the former National Assembly was attacked and destroyed by the citizens. The conflict is significant because it poses an opportunity to not only reflect on the turbulent historic events that have led the nation to this crossroads, it also begs the question of its citizens: How do we move forward?
Established as a French colony in 1919, Upper Volta achieved independence from France in 1960 and was renamed Burkina Faso in 1984. Historically, the area was settled by many different tribes and ethnic groups resulting in a demographically rich population. Today, Burkina Faso is home to over 50 different ethnicities who speak more than 60 languages. With a population of almost 19 million*, Burkina Faso’s high growth rate and limited natural resources result in poor economic prospects for the majority of its citizens. With increasing access to information and technology, the rapidly-growing population of young Burkinabés (45% are under the age of 14*) demand new opportunities and a better quality of life.
When Francis Kéré was asked to propose a design for a new parliament building, it was crucial for him to implement a design that not only addresses the core democratic values of transparency, openness & equality, but could also become a catalyst for growth and development for the capital city of Ouagadougou as a whole.
As opposed to the common practice of replicating models imported from the west with no consideration for local needs, resources and climate; Kéré looked to tradition for the design of the 127-seat assembly hall. In rural areas, the elders of a village gather to discuss important matters under the shade of a great tree. Kéré reinstated this Arbre à palabres, or tree of discussion, in a private garden directly adjacent to the formal assembly hall where members of parliament can convene more directly.
As an overwhelming majority of Burkinabé's practice subsistence farming with 90%* of the labor force dedicated to agriculture, farming is crucial to the survival and prosperity of Burkina Faso. For this reason, the facade acts not only as solar shading that allows air to freely circulate the interior, it also hosts several green terraces that will pioneer new methods of agriculture. These plots will be accessible to the public and will serve as an educational tool to encourage urban farming.
The new parliament building is part of a larger masterplan for the original site of the revolts that destroyed the previous building. In Kéré's plan, the ruin of the old assembly is transformed into a shaded depression in the earth where rain water is collected and used for on-site irrigation. The space is intended as a memorial where visitors can relax in the shade and reflect upon those who lost their lives in the revolts. The reflection pool also serves as a passive cooling system for the interior. Surrounding the memorial is a plaza where a grove of local trees will provide shaded areas for seating and gathering. New commercial storefronts and exhibition spaces with shaded bicycle and car parking are also included.
In a village setting, the process of decision-making is not a private matter occurring behind closed doors; community-members are free to sit near the gathering and observe the proceedings. In this true spirit of transparency and openness, the outer facade of the parliamentary structure is designed to be inhabited by the public. The stepped pyramidal structure becomes a monument that citizens can climb and have an elevated view of Ouagadougou. In an area where the highest altitude does not exceed more than 400 meters, this unexpected but accessible height in the middle of the flat urban fabric offers a new perspective both literally and metaphorically.
Credits:
Project Name: Burkina Faso National Assembly & Memorial Park
Local Name: Assemblée National du Burkina Faso et du Parc Memorial
Project Location: Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Lead Architect: Francis Kéré
Design Team: Adriana Arteaga, Jaime Herraiz, Damien Greder, Andrea Maretto, Diego Sologuren Martin, Nina Tescari, Blake Villwock
Project Status: In Development
Image Credits: Kéré Architecture
Established as a French colony in 1919, Upper Volta achieved independence from France in 1960 and was renamed Burkina Faso in 1984. Historically, the area was settled by many different tribes and ethnic groups resulting in a demographically rich population. Today, Burkina Faso is home to over 50 different ethnicities who speak more than 60 languages. With a population of almost 19 million*, Burkina Faso’s high growth rate and limited natural resources result in poor economic prospects for the majority of its citizens. With increasing access to information and technology, the rapidly-growing population of young Burkinabés (45% are under the age of 14*) demand new opportunities and a better quality of life.
When Francis Kéré was asked to propose a design for a new parliament building, it was crucial for him to implement a design that not only addresses the core democratic values of transparency, openness & equality, but could also become a catalyst for growth and development for the capital city of Ouagadougou as a whole.
As opposed to the common practice of replicating models imported from the west with no consideration for local needs, resources and climate; Kéré looked to tradition for the design of the 127-seat assembly hall. In rural areas, the elders of a village gather to discuss important matters under the shade of a great tree. Kéré reinstated this Arbre à palabres, or tree of discussion, in a private garden directly adjacent to the formal assembly hall where members of parliament can convene more directly.
As an overwhelming majority of Burkinabé's practice subsistence farming with 90%* of the labor force dedicated to agriculture, farming is crucial to the survival and prosperity of Burkina Faso. For this reason, the facade acts not only as solar shading that allows air to freely circulate the interior, it also hosts several green terraces that will pioneer new methods of agriculture. These plots will be accessible to the public and will serve as an educational tool to encourage urban farming.
The new parliament building is part of a larger masterplan for the original site of the revolts that destroyed the previous building. In Kéré's plan, the ruin of the old assembly is transformed into a shaded depression in the earth where rain water is collected and used for on-site irrigation. The space is intended as a memorial where visitors can relax in the shade and reflect upon those who lost their lives in the revolts. The reflection pool also serves as a passive cooling system for the interior. Surrounding the memorial is a plaza where a grove of local trees will provide shaded areas for seating and gathering. New commercial storefronts and exhibition spaces with shaded bicycle and car parking are also included.
In a village setting, the process of decision-making is not a private matter occurring behind closed doors; community-members are free to sit near the gathering and observe the proceedings. In this true spirit of transparency and openness, the outer facade of the parliamentary structure is designed to be inhabited by the public. The stepped pyramidal structure becomes a monument that citizens can climb and have an elevated view of Ouagadougou. In an area where the highest altitude does not exceed more than 400 meters, this unexpected but accessible height in the middle of the flat urban fabric offers a new perspective both literally and metaphorically.
Credits:
Project Name: Burkina Faso National Assembly & Memorial Park
Local Name: Assemblée National du Burkina Faso et du Parc Memorial
Project Location: Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Lead Architect: Francis Kéré
Design Team: Adriana Arteaga, Jaime Herraiz, Damien Greder, Andrea Maretto, Diego Sologuren Martin, Nina Tescari, Blake Villwock
Project Status: In Development
Image Credits: Kéré Architecture
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