Patrick Schweitzer S&AA · CLIENT: S&aa
Faculty Architecture is a school of architecture in Kigali, Rwanda, planned for 600 students on a site of 5,600 square metres. The design starts from a simple volume on two levels. The volume is pulled apart on opposite sides, which creates a central gap that forms an outdoor space for students. Stone is used for the exterior envelope and self-coloured concrete for the interior. Small windows face outward, while large inward-facing windows are shaded by roof overhangs. Truncated upper sections bring in daylight and improve ventilation.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- The firm responded to an international call for tender launched in March 2012 by the government of Rwanda for the design of a new architecture school to accommodate 600 students on a 5,600 sq.m. site not far from the existing faculty. For this project we began with a simple form on two levels which we distorted in the same way tectonic forces distort land masses: we pulled on opposite sides, making a gap in the centre that would form the outside area for the students.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- The project does 5 600 square metres
- Tags
- Rwanda, school, architecture, Kigali
- Production Technology
- The building uses two simple materials commonly found in the region: stone for the exterior envelope; and self-coloured concrete for the interior. The building has small outward-facing windows and large inward-facing windows protected from the sun by roof overhangs.
- Design Challenge
- The difficulty of the project was to manage it from France, with a relay on site and to use only local materials.
- Project Duration
- Kigali at Rwanda
2017 to 2018 - Operation Flow
- The firm responded to an international call for tender launched in March 2012 by the government of Rwanda for the design of a new architecture school to accommodate 600 students on a 5,600 sq.m. site not far from the existing faculty.
- Research
- The firm opted for a highly architectural project using complex forms, driven by both pedagogical and environmental concerns, halfway between traditional architecture and contemporary design. This is a simple, didactic building designed to train the future architects of a developing African country whose population is set to double by 2050.
- Inspiration
- The building uses two simple materials commonly found in the region: stone for the exterior envelope; and self-coloured concrete for the interior. The building has small outward-facing windows and large inward-facing windows protected from the sun by roof overhangs. The upper section of the pyramids is truncated in order to bring in natural light and optimise ventilation.
- Image Credits
- Photo : Edwin SEda, Emmanuel Cattier, Jules Toulet
- Patents
- SetAA
Press releases are available in 1 languages.