Francis Kéré unveils nature-inspired Benin National Assembly
Francis Kéré's new design for the National Assembly for the Republic of Benin is inspired by the West African country's culture, traditions and nature
The parliament of the Republic of Benin has commissioned Francis Kéré of Berlin-based studio Kéré Architecture to design an assembly building in the country's capital of Porto-Novo. The new National Assembly will come to replace the parliament's current home, which was in need of a refresh.
Kéré drew on a local West African tree for inspiration. The architect was influenced by the palaver tree, and ‘the age-old West African tradition of meeting under a tree to make consensual decisions in the interest of a community.' The team aimed for the new architecture to read as a symbol for democracy and the country's culture. As a result the structure is divided in two distinct sections – the trunk-like lower part and the upper ‘crown', which alludes to a tree's foliage.
The grand assembly hall is located on the lower section, making the most of the dynamic curves and permeable nature of the structure. An open air courtyard sits at its heart. The upper areas contain offices and auxiliary functions, protected behind a series of undulating, vertical ‘fins' on the facade.
Responding to Porto-Novo's hot climate, Francis Kéré and his team placed a strong focus on outdoor areas and natural ventilation. Deep recesses on the facade make sure the interiors get plenty of shade, while all circulation areas are easily ventilated through the central courtyard. A large part of the site is dedicated to greenery and becomes a public park full of native West Afircan flora, while a roof terrace at the top offers sweeping views of the city and water.
INFORMATION
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox
Ellie Stathaki is the Architecture & Environment Director at Wallpaper*. She trained as an architect at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and studied architectural history at the Bartlett in London. Now an established journalist, she has been a member of the Wallpaper* team since 2006, visiting buildings across the globe and interviewing leading architects such as Tadao Ando and Rem Koolhaas. Ellie has also taken part in judging panels, moderated events, curated shows and contributed in books, such as The Contemporary House (Thames & Hudson, 2018), Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary (2020) and House London (2022).
-
The 2024 Ivor Novello nominations for songwriting have been revealed
77 British and Irish songwriters and composers make up this year's nominees, announced tonight at London's Groucho Club
By Charlotte Gunn Published
-
Why Bollinger’s La Grande Année 2015 champagne is worth celebrating
Champagne Bollinger unveils La Grande Année 2015 and La Grande Année Rosé 2015, two outstanding cuvées from an exceptional year in wine-making
By Melina Keays Published
-
Lexus installation explores time at Milan Design Week 2024
Lexus brought designer Hideki Yoshimoto’s ‘Beyond the Horizon’ to Milan’s Art Point, part of its ongoing series of collaborations with Fuorisalone
By Nargess Shahmanesh Banks Published
-
Kéré Architecture’s Uganda community centre provides safety and opportunity
A Uganda community centre created by Kéré Architecture was designed with development in mind
By Martha Elliott Published
-
Diébédo Francis Kéré wins 2022 Pritzker Prize
Architect Diébédo Francis Kéré scoops the 2022 Pritzker Prize for architecture
By Ellie Stathaki Last updated
-
Francis Kéré’s education campus in Kenya is inspired by termites
Francis Kéré’s perfectly ventilated, termite-inspired Kenyan education campus, SLAK, is a breath of fresh air by Lake Turkana
By Ellie Stathaki Last updated
-
Francis Kéré adds uplifting timber pavilion to the Tippet Rise Art Center in Montana
By Harriet Thorpe Last updated
-
Home proud: surveying the work of African architect Francis Kéré
By Harriet Thorpe Last updated
-
Out of Africa: Francis Kéré’s community architecture arrives in Philadelphia
By Daniel Scheffler Last updated