Francis Kéré brings to the world a different kind of contemporary African architecture. The 2022 Pritzker Prize winner has built a career out of making places that exist on the periphery—places that have a transformative impact on the way in which communities and societies see and serve themselves. He is a trailblazer for his long-standing commitment to formalizing space for both social and environmental good, and in this sense his legacy lives not just in his built work but also in his general practice and methodological spirit. This is manifest not only in Kéré’s completed buildings—such as a Burkina Faso–based health center that boasts roofs designed to collect needed rainwater—but in the integrity of his process, which is predicated on knowledge building and knowledge sharing as he works with local communities to inform his creations. His recognition is fully and rightfully deserved.
Adjaye is an architect
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