Francis Kéré – architecture that empowers

Francis Kéré is one of Africa’s most prominent architects, perhaps best known for his new building for the parliament of Benin. It draws on the West African tradition of meeting under a tree to make decisions for the community. This is reflected in the soaring roof of the chamber, and in the shape of the building, with a central ‘trunk’ and large shaded plazas at the centre of a park.

That’s perhaps the most high profile of Kéré’s commissions, but many of his buildings are more modest. W...