FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Faculty Architecture in Kigali, Rwanda

Patrick Schweitzer S&AA has unveiled an innovative architecture school in Kigali, Rwanda, designed to accommodate 600 students on a 5,600 sq.m. site. The building, responding to an international call for tender by the government of Rwanda, features a unique design that integrates traditional materials commonly found in the region.

The school, designed by Patrick Schweitzer S&AA, stands out for its use of stone for the exterior envelope and self-colored concrete for the interior. The building's design incorporates small outward-facing windows and large inward-facing windows, strategically protected from the sun by roof overhangs. The upper section of the pyramids is truncated to optimize natural light and ventilation.

Responding to the call for tender in 2012, the agency started with a simple form on two levels, which was distorted in a way that mimics tectonic forces distorting land masses. The resulting design features a central fault that forms the outside area for the students, creating a unique and functional living space.

Constructed between 2017 and 2018, the project presented challenges such as managing the project remotely from France and using only local materials. The agency's approach reflects a blend of traditional architecture and contemporary design, aiming to train future architects in a developing African country with a rapidly growing population.

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