Sustainable architecture for the women in Burkina Faso by FAREStudio.

Environmental and social sustainability are the keywords for Rome-based Italian architecture firm, FAREstudio. Here we take a look at the CBF (Centre pour le Bien-etre des femmes) a women’s health centre in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.



The CBF women’s healthcare centre is the architectural response to a social programme to raise awareness of and prevent female genital mutilation in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, in a harsh environment.





The lack of local resources drove Italian architecture studio FAREstudio to design quality. So it adopted a work in progress approach to come up with the most sustainable architectural solutions possible, which were also appropriate for local conditions.



The architects worked with local builders to finish construction in just 15 months. This facility meets the needs stated by AIDOS, an Italian NGO fighting for women’s rights in developing countries and has turned into a real community centre.





The multi award-winning results say it loud and clear: two blocks located on 1600 square metres are used for different activities; one is a Training Centre and the other a Consultancy Centre. Sun-dried bricks made from a composite of earth, cement and water were used to build the walls, which also reduced environmental impact of the construction. And a range of passive architectural ideas were used in the facility: orientation of the building, raised roofs to provide temperature control, transitional and communicating verandas and patios, openings. The exterior also plays an important part in the whole composition, adopting native plants and including courtyard for the local community. 



One more example of architecture as a drive for social change.

(Christiane Bürklein)

Project: FAREstudio, http://www.farestudio.it/
Location:  Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Photography: ph. Sheila McKinnon,  ph. Cariddi Nardulli, FARstudio - courtesy of FAREstudio
Awards: Philippe Rotthier Architecture Prize 2014
Aga Khan Award for Architecture 2010, Shortlisted Project
World Architecture Festival, Health Category Award, 2008