Burkina Faso is a special country; one that is characterized not by its economy or its nature, but by the people that inhabit it. Diversity is unequivocally Burkina Faso’s strong suite as difference takes place in co-existence. What makes this interesting for an architect is that the large variety of ethnic groups is paired with the creativity portrayed in the spatial environment.
Understanding the natural, cultural and social context in which Burkinabé citizens live will provide us with the tools to design better, more affordable and more culturally sensitive housing solutions. Comprehending their daily life is of high importance if the urbanizing population is to accept, apply, use and create new, more effective housing typologies.
This documentary shows the strength local architecture has and the inevitable change that the country is facing. Fusing both the vernacular and an African modernity offers viable solutions to the spatial development of the country’s urban growth.
I hope you enjoy it!
Check www.robynesome.com/burkinab-d... for the research paper, which contextualizes global challenges such as high population growth, rapid urbanization, and the lack of cultural values portrayed in mass housing, within Burkina Faso.