Kéré Architecture has designed a new healthcare center in Burundi, specifically in the Bubanza region, located approximately 40 kilometers north of Bujumbura, the country's former capital. The Ineza Clinic project, commissioned by the NGO Ineza Clinic, aims to enhance healthcare accessibility for the rural population, focusing on maternal and specialized surgical services. This facility will supplement the existing general hospital services. The proposed design features a 3,000 square meter complex comprising ten pavilions, interconnected by a winding road that navigates the hillside, leading to a visitor center. The construction integrates locally sourced materials, traditional craftsmanship, and knowledge transfer, aiming to reduce its carbon footprint, support the local economy, and empower local teams. The initial construction phase is anticipated to conclude this year.
Burundi, situated in the East African Great Rift Valley, faces significant challenges as one of the world's poorest nations, with a large portion of its population living below the poverty line. The country also experiences high population density. The administrative capital was relocated from Bujumbura to Gitega in 2019, though Bujumbura remains the economic heart. Kéré Architecture recognized the difficulties posed by high fuel prices and inadequate road infrastructure for material and personnel transport. Consequently, the design team meticulously identified local resources such as brick factories, welding workshops, and wood processing facilities. This approach ensures the clinic can be built efficiently using available local means and techniques, fostering sustainability and self-reliance.
The clinic's site is a steep, north-facing hillside, conveniently accessible from the main road connecting Bujumbura to northern Burundi. The design strategically distributes the healthcare functions across ten pavilions. A central spine road connects these structures, ascending from the lower access point to the upper visitor area, effectively separating public and clinical spaces. The building forms are adapted to the natural topography, with narrow, elongated structures chosen to minimize ground disturbance and maintain the hill's original profile. The orientation of the buildings is optimized to harness prevailing wind patterns, maximizing natural cross-ventilation and ensuring thermal comfort without relying on mechanical air conditioning systems.
The layout of the clinic's buildings prioritizes efficient functionality and clear pathways for staff, patients, and visitors. The maternal care and outpatient units feature similar floor plans, characterized by irregular profiles that create shaded waiting areas and integrated bench alcoves along their exteriors. An innovative ventilated roof system, inspired by Kéré Architecture's previous projects, is implemented to address Burundi's heavy seasonal rainfall. The surgical ward adopts a distinct architectural strategy, incorporating vertical chimneys for stack ventilation. Each patient bay is designed with an individual window to ensure ample natural light and views of the surrounding landscape. To control transportation costs while upholding material quality, walls and perforated screens are constructed using locally manufactured clay bricks. Ramps, retaining walls, and landscape features utilize stone procured from nearby quarries. The project actively engages local builders and bricklayers, who collaborate closely with the Kéré Architecture team, employing construction methods refined over many years by the practice.
The project will be completed in two phases. The first phase, encompassing half of the buildings, is scheduled for operation in the summer of 2026, marking the commencement of clinic services. The remaining structures will be completed in 2027. The Ineza Clinic represents a continuation of Kéré Architecture's extensive experience in healthcare design, building upon successful projects in Burkina Faso, such as the Léo Surgical Clinic and Health Centre and the Centre for Health and Social Welfare. The firm's recent endeavors also include the design of Las Vegas's first standalone museum, featuring a mosaic of locally sourced stone; a proposal for the 40,000-square-meter Biblioteca dos Saberes (House of Wisdom) in Rio de Janeiro's Cidade Nova neighborhood, which includes a perforated façade for sun protection, rooftop gardens, and a canopied amphitheater; and Museum Ehrhardt, the firm's inaugural cultural project in Germany, dedicated to photography and contemporary art, currently under construction.