African Architecture News: Buildings
post updated 17 September 2026
African Architecture Designs – chronological list
17 September 2026
Africa Architecture Forum 2026 to Connect Leaders Shaping Africa’s Built Future
Rabat, Morocco: Great Minds Event Management is set to host the Africa Architecture Forum 2026, taking place on 4 and 5 November 2026 at the Four Seasons Hotel Rabat at Kasr Al Bahr, Morocco. The Forum will bring together government authorities, architects, developers, urban planners, consultants, project owners, sustainability experts and solution providers to exchange ideas and explore the future of architecture and urban development across Africa.
As African cities continue to grow and evolve, the Forum will examine how architecture can respond to the continent’s diverse climates, cultures and development priorities while supporting more sustainable, resilient and liveable communities. Discussions will explore how African identity, local knowledge and modern innovation can come together to shape buildings and cities designed for the continent’s future.
The two day conference will address key themes including sustainable architecture, climate responsive design, urban resilience, cultural identity and heritage, innovative building materials, smart technologies, energy efficiency and future city development. Expert presentations, panel discussions and project case studies will provide practical insights into the ideas, projects and solutions transforming Africa’s built environment.
The Africa Architecture Forum 2026 will also provide a dedicated platform for government stakeholders, architects, developers, consultants and industry leaders to connect, exchange knowledge and build partnerships across Africa’s architecture and construction community.
Alongside the conference, the exhibition will showcase innovative products, technologies and solutions across building materials, façades, glass, lighting, cooling, smart building technologies, sustainable construction, landscaping, energy efficiency and other solutions supporting the future of African architecture.
Registration is now open for architects, developers, government organisations, urban planners, consultants, contractors, engineers, academics, solution providers, sponsors, exhibitors and built environment professionals.
For more information, agenda updates, speakers and registration, visit: africaarchitectureforum.com
About Great Minds Event Management
Great Minds Event Management (GM Events) organises high level conferences and exhibitions across the Middle East, Africa and Asia, bringing together senior decision makers, technical experts, policymakers and solution providers to address critical industry challenges, facilitate knowledge exchange and accelerate business growth.
7 August 2026
Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar, Senegal
Project Consultancy: Hardel Le Bihan Architectes
photo : Schnepp Renou
A leading centre of higher education in West Africa, Cheikh Anta Diop University (UCAD) in Dakar has long been recognised for its academic excellence and regional influence. Building on this legacy, a major campus expansion introduces 16 new buildings designed to accommodate approximately 10,000 students, significantly enhancing the university’s teaching, research and student facilities.
The development is distributed across two complementary sites, with ten buildings integrated into the existing UCAD campus and a further six located at Cité Claudel. Together, the projects create a cohesive academic environment that responds to growing enrolment while reinforcing connections between learning, student life and the wider urban context.
27 July 2026
HEI Schools Forbach Mauritius
Design: Architects’ Studio Ltd
photo : Eric Lee
HEI Schools Mauritius, designed by Architects Studio, was named the Popular Choice Winner in the Kindergarten category at the 14th Annual Architizer A+Awards. Located within the historic Forbach Sugar Estate in northern Mauritius, the project transforms a former residential labourers’ camp into a contemporary early childhood education centre serving 120 children aged from birth to five years.
2 July 2026
Céline & Lolo Nairobi Boutique Hotel, Kenya
Architect: Powerhouse Company
photo : Amy May Roux
Powerhouse Company has transformed a 1970s Brutalist villa into Céline & Lolo, a boutique hotel in Nairobi’s Lavington neighbourhood that blurs the boundaries between hospitality venue, private retreat and local social destination. Conceived as a place that evokes the familiarity and nostalgia of returning to a beloved holiday home, the project cultivates an atmosphere that is intimate, sun-filled and rich in character.
11 June 2026
Bidi Bidi Refugee Music & Arts Centre, north Uganda
Design: Hassell with LocalWorks
photo courtesy of to.org Photographer Mutua Matheka
Led by the to.org Foundation and designed by Hassell in collaboration with Arup, LocalWorks, and SINA LOKETA, the Bidi Bidi Performing Arts Centre is a pioneering cultural initiative that provides a dedicated platform for creative expression, education, and performance within northern Uganda’s Bidi Bidi refugee settlement. As Africa’s largest refugee settlement and home to more than 250,000 displaced people, Bidi Bidi presents a unique context in which the centre serves as both a cultural landmark and a vital community resource, fostering opportunity, connection, and artistic development.
28 May 2026
Children’s Surgical Hospital, Entebbe, Uganda
Design: Renzo Piano Building Workshop with Studio TAMassociati and EMERGENCY Building Division Construction
photo : Massimo Grimaldi
As climate pressures intensify across East Africa—bringing higher temperatures, unreliable energy infrastructure, and mounting stress on public health systems—the question is no longer whether hospitals must adapt, but how architecture itself can become an instrument of resilience. Five years after its opening in Entebbe, Uganda, the Children’s Surgical Hospital, designed pro bono by Renzo Piano Building Workshop and TAMassociati for EMERGENCY, offers one of the clearest built answers to that question.
17 May 2026
La Pyramide Architecture Competition, Abidjan, Ivory Coast
image courtesy of architectural contest organsier
In the heart of Abidjan’s administrative district, La Pyramide rises as a 62-meter monument to the era of the “Ivorian Miracle.” Designed by architect Rinaldo Olivieri and engineer Riccardo Morandi between 1968 and 1973, a 15-story brutalist landmark meant to announce Côte d’Ivoire onto the global stage.
2 May 2026
The University of Science and Technology – Houari Boumediene, Algeria
Date built: 1974
A university located in the town of Bab-Ezzouar 15 kilometres from Algiers, Algeria.
The university was designed by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer and inaugurated in 1974.
photos © Daniel Lomholt-Welch
Two photos from Annaba, on the coast in northeast Algeria:
Annaba buildings – coastal city with beaches:
Annaba fish market building:
photos © Daniel Lomholt-Welch
15 April 2026
Ebrié Villa, Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Architects: SAOTA
photo : Adam Letch
The client envisioned an intimate retreat, giving SAOTA the opportunity to explore a more organic design approach. Drawing inspiration from the surrounding landscape, the villa is defined by expressive forms and a pavilion-like roof structure that enhances its connection to the natural environment.
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16 March 2026
City Walk Masterplan Abuja, Nigeria, western Africa
Design: Benoy
image courtesy of architectural practice
A continental landmark and a national first will define Abuja’s new gateway district. City Walk, Benoy’s 250-hectare mixed-use masterplan on Airport Road, will feature Africa’s tallest tower at 450 metres alongside Nigeria’s largest indoor arena with a capacity of 13,000 seats. Located within a Free Trade Zone—where the capital first presents itself to international visitors, investors, and businesses—City Walk brings together trade and civic life in a single destination. Phase One is currently underway.
14 January 2026
Bishoftu International Airport, Abusera, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Design: Zaha Hadid Architects and Pascall+Watson Architects
image : X Universe
Phase One of Bishoftu International Airport (BIA) is designed to accommodate 60 million passengers annually. Subsequent phases will expand capacity to up to 110 million passengers per year, supported by four runways and parking for 270 aircraft.
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African Architecture News in 2025
Contemporary Africa building designs images + information. Modern built environment & architects updates.
FBW Works To Deliver East Africa’s Largest Data Centre
FBW Group, a major player in East Africa’s construction and development sector, has been appointed to the team delivering what is set to be the region’s largest data centre.
Work has begun onsite to create a multi-million dollar facility at Tatu City, the special economic zone on the outskirts of the Kenyan capital Nairobi.
The design team at the groundbreaking ceremony. (L-R) Simon Herd and Alex Sagwe, Mace YMR; Justin Orina, Airtel; Rob Woffenden, FBW; Harry Eddy, Mace YMR and Mohamed Elsayed, Meinhardt:
The groundbreaking project is being developed by communication group Airtel Africa’s data centre arm Nxtra.
The 44-megawatt facility will be a major addition to Kenya’s digital infrastructure and has been designed to support cloud computing, AI workloads, and enterprise-scale services across the region.
The project will strategically position Kenya as a Continental technology hub and the centre is expected to be ready to go into service in the first quarter of 2027.
Leading African planning, design, engineering and architecture consultancy FBW Group is providing local support services to the lead designer team Meinhardt Group, based in Dubai.
Robert Woffenden, FBW’s business development manager in Kenya, said: “We’re delighted to be playing our part in such an important project for Kenya and the wider region.
“The scale and quality of the centre is game-changing. It is a major investment in the country’s future. It will expand broadband connectivity, spur innovation, and enable the digital economy to flourish.
“The project is delivering world-class infrastructure and setting a new benchmark for enterprise-ready data centres on the continent.
“Sustainability is another important feature of the project. Tatu City delivers more than 95% renewable energy, making it one of the most sustainable locations for data centres on the globe.”
Paul Moores, FBW managing director, says the group is ready to play a growing role in the development of data centres, an increasing focus of investment in East Africa, providing its local support, design and oversight services.
He said: “We are seeing increasing interest in the design and construction of data centres, which we believe represents an enormous opportunity for East Africa, and we are well placed to play our part in their delivery.
“These projects are highly specialised and technically challenging. As a multi-disciplinary practice, we are able to draw on a wide skills base and resources as well as all the experience we have helping to deliver highly complex developments in a range of sectors, including health, bioscience and energy.”
FBW Group, which has offices in Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda, has a strong record of delivery on high-profile infrastructure projects across East Africa and beyond.
It collaborates on programmes of importance both economically and socially, using its on-the-ground knowledge to aid successful delivery.
FBW works with both private and institutional clients, and over its 30 years of operation has built longstanding relationships a trusted ‘Partner of Choice’ for groundbreaking developments.
Its recent high-profile projects have included delivering the newly opened Clinical Research Excellence And Training Open Resource (CREATOR) – a postgraduate medical specialist and research training centre in Malawi.
CREATOR is now providing the most sophisticated clinical research training environment in the region and will be truly transformational and life-changing for the African nation.
FBW is also part of the team tasked with delivering the groundbreaking Kigali Green City masterplan in the Rwandan capital.
And in Uganda it led an international team that delivered new eco-friendly headquarters in Kampala for two major United Nations agencies. The new office, handed over at the end of last year, houses the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and The World Food Programme (WFP).
For more information on its wide portfolio of projects please visit www.fbwgroup.com
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1 December 2025
Porto Novo Cultural Arena, Benin, west Africa
Design: StudioMAAC Architects
image courtesy of architects practice
Porto Novo Cultural Arena building design by StudioMAAC Architects, a West Africa urban landmark. The structure will not only serve as a venue for performances but also as a symbol of Benin’s cultural identity and vitality.
FBW Helps Deliver Groundbreaking Kigali Sports And Entertainment Complex
East African headquartered FBW Group has played a key role in the creation of Zaria Court Kigali – a new multi-purpose sports and entertainment complex set to become a major destination in the Rwandan capital.
The first development of its kind on the African continent, it has been designed as a hub for social and cultural gatherings, and is expected to create around 500 jobs, particularly in the hospitality and tourism sectors.
image courtesy of FBW Group
FBW’s expert team of architects and engineers played a central role in delivering the structural and MEP design for the groundbreaking project, which sits in the corridor connecting Kigali International Airport to the Central Business District, positioning it as a key gateway into the city.
FBW provided consultancy services as executive architects on the programme, alongside full engineering services. The group also acted as the architects and engineers of record.
Its team was responsible for navigating local regulations, securing planning approvals and co-ordinating with the Rwandan authorities to obtain the necessary permits and licences for construction to get underway.
FBW also developed comprehensive stage technical drawings and provided technical reporting, site inspections and coordination to support the wider project team throughout the construction phase.
Set on the historically significant site of the former Rwanda Biomedical Centre – once used by the UN in the 1990s – the project, designed by Amsterdam based architects NLÉ, has revitalised an existing 80-room boutique hotel, originally built in the 1970s.
image courtesy of FBW Group
The result is a modern destination, featuring restaurants, a rooftop lounge, wellness spaces, co-working areas and a podcast studio. A multi-purpose court will host sporting events, festivals, performances, markets, and other activities.
The development’s masterplan has integrated architecture and landscape to create a walkable, green-focused environment that retains mature trees and has introduced new green spaces.
Zaria Court Kigali, which has now officially opened, is the latest in a series of major developments in Rwanda that FBW Group has played a part in delivering.
The leading African planning, design, architecture and engineering group, which has offices in Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda, is also a member of the international team tasked with creating the trailblazing Kigali Green City project.
That transformational development is being hailed as is an important milestone on the road to creating more sustainable green cities in the region and worldwide.
Paul Semanda, group director at FBW, said: “Zaria Court is more than a new development. It is a symbol of contemporary urban Africa – youthful, inclusive, culturally grounded, and future-ready.
“It showcases what is possible when sport, hospitality, and civic identity come together with care, creativity, and ambition. We are proud to have been part of bringing this transformative project to life.”
He added: “We worked closely with NLÉ, and as local project architects and engineers led the technical delivery, guiding the project through planning approval, compliance, and detailed construction documentation.
“The team also worked closely with local authorities to ensure that Rwandan building standards, rules and zoning conditions were met, while aligning with the vision of the broader masterplan.
“This collaborative and responsive design approach between global design leaders and local technical expertise has delivered a first-class, community driven civic project that really stands out as something very special.”
FBW is a major player in East Africa’s construction and development sector and has made a name for itself working on high-profile infrastructure projects. In 2025 the group is celebrating 30 years of quality design, architecture, planning and engineering work across the region.
Over that time, it has been involved in a wide range of successful, high-profile leisure and hospitality projects. They include the first Four Points by Sheraton hotel in Uganda’s capital Kampala as well as the Hotel Umubano in Kigali and the AC Marriott, Westlands in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.
FBW also delivered Kampala’s first boutique hotel. The Emin Pasha is set in two acres of tropical gardens in the centre of the city.
The multi-disciplinary planning, design, architecture and engineering group has a workforce of more than 30 professionals delivering high value construction and development projects across Africa.
It offers a wide range of in-house professional building and technical services. They include pre-design services, development consultancy, building appraisals and condition surveys, project management, architecture, civil and structural engineering, MEP engineering, telecommunication engineering, and other building consultancy services.
For more information on FBW Group and its services please visit www.fbwgroup.com
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22 August 2025
FBW appointed to deliver transformative vocational education centres in Somalia
Leading East African architecture and engineering practice FBW Group has been appointed to design two Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) schools in Somalia.
FBW is working with international consultancy firm NIRAS, a specialist in sustainable development and engineering headquartered in Denmark, on the transformative project to create two TVET centres in Somalia.
TVET centre building in Somalia:
Once open, the TVET+ schools will deliver a range of vocational education to the local population.
The project is part of a wider programme funded by the German Development bank KfW and being developed in partnership with the Ministry of Planning and the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs in Somalia.
A Norwegian-Somali consortium involving non-government organisations the YME Foundation and Gurmad for Sustainable Aid (GSA) is behind the plan to develop a network of TVET operations.
FBW has 30 years of experience designing and delivering complex, high-quality and internationally compliant construction projects across East Africa and beyond. The project is FBW’s first work in Somalia.
Antje Eckoldt, FBW Group director, said: “FBW is proud to be part of this important mission to empower Somali youth through transformative education and skills development.
“We are looking forward to working with NIRAS in building the future of vocational education for the local population and creating innovative learning spaces that will deliver the education and skills that will open doors to opportunity.”
She added: “Sustainability is an important part of our design remit and we’re looking at a range of measures such as grey water recycling for irrigation in order to increase tree cover and the use of locally sourced natural materials in order to reduce embodied carbon.”
The team delivering the TVET schools including the YME Foundation and GSA, who work to improve access to water and sanitary installations in Africa by providing solar powered drinking water solutions to local populations in countries such as Somalia.
FBW Group, which has offices in Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda, has a strong record of delivery on high-profile infrastructure projects enabled and driven by international investment.
It collaborates on programmes of importance both economically and socially, using its on-the-ground knowledge.
FBW works with both private and institutional clients and over its 30 years has built longstanding relationships a trusted ‘Partner of Choice’ for groundbreaking projects.
For more information on its wide portfolio of projects please visit www.fbwgroup.com
16 July 2025
African Flow School, Soa, near Yaoundé, Cameroon, west Africa
Design: Urbanitree – Architects Vicente Guallart and Daniel Ibáñez
photo © Adrià Goula
25 June 2025
Virunga Mountain Spirits, Musanze, Rwanda, East Africa
Architects: BE_Design
photo : Bruce Engel
20 May 2025
Thomas Sankara Mausoleum, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Design: Francis Kéré of Kéré Architecture
photo © Kéré Architecture
More African Architecture News online soon.
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African Building News 2025 + 2024
post updated 26 May 2026
African Architecture Designs – chronological list
12 May 2025
International Investment Drives Visitor Economy Growth In Uganda
Leading African planning, design, architecture and engineering business FBW Group is predicting strong growth in Uganda’s visitor economy as more international investors are attracted by the country’s tourism potential.
Uganda is eyeing a tourism windfall of $5.2 billion in revenue by 2028, with a target of 3.5 million visitors a year over the next five years.
Paul Moores, managing director of FBW, which has its headquarters in the Ugandan capital Kampala, says that ambition is already driving global investment interest.
As a result, FBW, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, is currently working on a number of major projects in the sector, including visitor centres and high-end lodge accommodation, and is seeing investor appetite grow.
Moores was speaking in the run up to the Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo 2025, which will take place between May 21-24 in Kampala.
The annual event, showcasing Uganda’s unique attractions and promoting the country as a prime destination for tourism, is set to attract international buyers and thousands of trade visitors.
Tourism is already one of the largest sectors in the country’s economy, directly contributing more than 3.6 per cent to the country’s GDP in 2023 and employing about one in every seven workers.
Recognising its future potential, the government in Kampala has launched a number of strategic initiatives, including developing high-quality accommodation.
And in another positive move, a new Uganda Airlines direct flight to the UK – the first in ten years – has been announced and is set to boost visitor numbers further.
Paul Moores FBW Group managing director:
Paul Moores said: “We’re already seeing strong growth in the region’s tourism sector, and we’re working on a number of projects on behalf of international investors, including visitor centres and high-end lodge accommodation.
“There’s a lot of interest in the sector and its potential. It has been reported that private sector investments in tourism infrastructure have grown by 15 per in the past 12 months alone.
“The Uganda Hotel Owners Association has also reported that several international hotel brands are planning new properties in Kampala and near major national parks.
“A Dubai-based investment firm recently confirmed its $122.4m investment in the country, including building high-end hotels in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Murchison Falls National Park.
“And the EU and its member states are also set to invest in supporting sustainable and responsible tourism here.
“It all adds up to a positive picture for the visitor economy and we’re proud to be playing our part in that growth journey. We see great potential for investment in tourism projects moving forward.”
FBW has played its part in the development of the visitor economy in Uganda throughout its 30 years of operation in East Africa.
Four Points by Sheraton hotel in Kampala, Uganda, East Africa:
The first Four Points by Sheraton hotel in the country, delivered by FBW, opened its door to guests last year. The hotel in Kampala offers 142 guest rooms and suites, restaurants, bars and a ballroom as well as meeting rooms, swimming pool and fitness centre.
FBW, which has operations in Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda, delivered a full design and construction service on the project, covering project management, architecture, structural and civil engineering as well as MEP engineering.
The company also delivered Kampala’s first boutique hotel, The Emin Pasha, which is set in two acres of tropical gardens in the centre of the capital. FBW was the architect, project manager and engineer on the luxury 20-room hotel development, which remains a popular destination.
The group’s architects and engineers have also worked on a number of high-profile signature hotel and leisure projects across East Africa.
These include the multimillion refurbishment of the Hotel Umubano in the Rwandan capital Kigali, several bespoke boutique lodges in Rwanda and Kenya and the design of a major international branded hotel in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.
Stuart Harley, the group’s chief operating officer, said: “The hotel projects we have been involved in have all played their part in raising standards and delivering quality experiences for visitors.”
FBW is a major player in the region’s construction and development sector, working on high-profile infrastructure projects. It has offices in Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda.
The multi-disciplinary planning, design, architecture and engineering group currently has a workforce of more than 30 professionals delivering high value construction and development projects across Africa.
It works with private and institutional clients and over its 30 years of operation has built longstanding relationships a trusted ‘Partner of Choice’.
Its services include pre-design services, development consultancy, building appraisals and condition surveys, project management, architecture, civil and structural engineering, MEP engineering, telecommunication engineering, and other building consultancy services.
For more information on FBW Group and its services please visit www.fbwgroup.com
25 March 2025
Waldorf Astoria Seychelles, Félicité Island, The Seychelles
Architects: Eco-id Architects
photo : Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island
8 March 2025
FBW marks 30 years with more growth plans across Africa
Kampala headquartered FBW Group is celebrating 30 years of quality design, architecture, planning and engineering work with a growing pipeline of work across Africa.
A major player in East Africa’s construction and development sector, the group continues to expand its reach with recent projects in Malawi, Gambia and Somalia.
And as it marks its 30th anniversary, the group’s offices in Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda are seeing growing opportunities in sectors ranging from low-cost housing and tourism to the oil and gas sector.
FBW is also looking to play its role in the development of data centres, a growing focus of investment in East Africa.
The multi-disciplinary planning, design architecture and engineering group has a workforce of more than 30 professionals delivering high value construction and development projects.
Clinical Research Excellence And Training Open Resource in Malawi:
FBW works with private and institutional clients and over its 30 years has built longstanding relationships a trusted ‘Partner of Choice’ for groundbreaking projects.
It also collaborates with major international organisations on programmes of importance both economically and socially, using its on-the-ground knowledge.
In addition, FBW continues to play a leading part in the development of design, architecture and engineering in East Africa, supporting professional development in the region.
CREATOR building in Malawi:
FBW is also part of the team tasked with delivering the groundbreaking Kigali Green City masterplan in the Rwandan capital.
And in Uganda it led an international team that delivered new eco-friendly headquarters in Kampala for two major United Nations agencies. The new office, handed over at the end of last year, houses the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and The World Food Programme (WFP).
FBW Group managing director Paul Moores sees a raft of opportunities for the business in 2025, particularly in the countries where its offices are based.
He said: “A new UN report published in January shows continued robust growth in East Africa and we are well placed to take advantage, helping developers and investors deliver their projects using our strong local knowledge and expertise.
“We’re seeing signs of increasing investment in the region from a variety of sources, both domestically and internationally, and that bodes well for the economic outlook in 2025.
“In Uganda the oil industry continues to develop at pace and we are involved in a number of projects helping provide the infrastructure it needs. We recently completed the creation of an oil field services base camp in the west of the country.
“In Kenya we’re working to help create low-cost housing solutions, while our engineers deliver support to major multi-international manufacturing and food and beverage companies.
“And Rwanda continues to be a strong source of work for us, not least through the Kigali Green City project which is set to continue moving forward this year.”
“The groundbreaking initiative is set to drive Kigali’s sustainable, affordable, green, and inclusive urban growth and we’re looking forward to playing our part in its successful delivery.
Paul added: “We’re also seeing strong growth in the region’s tourism sector, and we’re working on a number of projects on behalf of international investors, including visitor centres and high-end lodge accommodation.
“The health sector is another area where we continue to grow and deliver developments that are truly transformational and life-changing. We’re proud of our partnerships with major international health organisations.
“And as the year begins, we are seeing increasing interest in the design and construction of data centres, which we believe represents an enormous opportunity for East Africa.”
FBW continues to grow its reach beyond its traditional East African base. Paul said: “We’re winning business across Africa, with recent major health projects in Malawi and Gambia and opportunities opening up for us in Somalia. And we continue to grow our links with companies based in South Africa.
“Our aim is to continue to move the business forward by nurturing and attracting top talent. The result is a great team delivering great projects.
“As a multi-disciplinary practice, we are able to draw on a wide skills base and resources for our clients and that is what gives us the edge.
“To succeed in the territories where we operate you have to understand the local legislation and business ethos and that continues to be our strength.”
For more information on its wide portfolio of projects please visit www.fbwgroup.com
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Africa Architectural Design Updates in 2024
10 December 2024
Masai Mara Conservation Centre Kenya Building News, Kenya, East Africa
image © Void Studios
VOID Studios, a UK-based architectural practice, has been awarded the commission to design a new Conservation Centre at Oloololo Gate in Kenya’s Masai Mara, on behalf of Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy.
10 December 2024
Kaira Looro 2025 Competition for Nursery School Buildings
18 November 2024
Noom Hotel Abidjan Plateau, Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Architects: SAOTA
image courtesy of architects practice
In the vibrant heart of Abidjan, where the Plateau region meets the languid sweep of the Ébrié Lagoon, a striking new silhouette has emerged against the skyline. The luxury Noom Hotel Abidjan Plateau, designed by architects SAOTA, continues Abidjan’s modernist legacy, reinterpreted for the present.
29 October 2024
FBW-led international team delivers eco-friendly office project for UN agencies
African based FBW Group has led an international team that has delivered new eco-friendly headquarters in Uganda for two major United Nations agencies.
The leading architecture and engineering firm was appointed to deliver the new combined office in the capital Kampala to house the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and The World Food Programme (WFP).
The construction of the multi-million-dollar project on the 2.6-acre site in Mbuya is now complete and the development has been officially handed over.
New office building in Kampala for UNICEF and WFP:
image courtesy of FBW Group
The two organisation’s 350 staff will share the new premises and its facilities. FBW provided full in-house design services and acted as project lead.
FWB Group, which has offices in Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda, has a strong track record of work delivering projects for international agencies in the region, including the United Nations (UN).
UNICEF is responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide. WFP is the food-assistance branch of the UN and is the world’s largest humanitarian organisation.
FBW’s team worked to create the four-storey office building which includes shared meeting rooms and conference facilities for both organisations.
Sustainability is at the heart of the development, with designers making use of natural ventilation and daylight. The building has been designed to save 20 per cent on energy use, water consumption and material-used in the building.
photograph : UNICEF Uganda/Joseph Balikuddembe/2024
This affords it an EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) certificate from the IFC-World Bank, a global standard for green building. The building has also been constructed using locally available materials.
The international team led by FBW was made up of Orbit Design, based in Thailand, providing interior designs; landscaping expert Landmark Studio from South Africa and Mace YMR, from Kampala, appointed as quantity surveyor on the scheme.
FBW has also worked on the project with WFP engineers and architects based in Rome and UNICEF’s New York-based architects and engineers.
FBW Group won the contract through an international open procurement process.
Stuart Harley, FBW’s director of operations, who is based in the group’s Kampala headquarters, said: “The new office development brings together two UN major organisations under one roof, and we’re delighted to have worked with both UNICEF and WFP on this major project for them in Uganda.
“A strong international team has delivered a building that has sustainability at its heart, works within the local landscape and caters for the needs of both these organisations and their staffs.”
He added: “Over a quarter of a century FBW Group has worked with a range of international organisations in Africa, including helping develop facilities for the UN in Tanzania.”
“Many of our present clients are international health and research organisations, bringing first-world specialist facilities to Africa.”
Abdirahman Meygag, WFP’s country director in Uganda, said: “This new eco-friendly office demonstrates WFP’s commitment to environmental sustainability, the well-being of our employees, and the strength of partnership.”
Munir Safieldin, UNICEF representative to Uganda, added. “This new climate-smart office building is more than just a workspace; it is a symbol of our commitment to building a sustainable future for the next generation.
“By investing in eco-friendly infrastructure, we are demonstrating to the children of today that their future matters. This building embodies our responsibility to protect not only the most vulnerable, but also the environment they will inherit.”
3 September 2024
Giraffe Water Towers, Serengeti, Tanzania, Africa
Concept Design: ZOO Architects
image courtesy of architects practice
In Laozi’s classic text the Tao Te Ching, it is written that the quality of existence for all things in nature are determined by the relationship between yin and yang (the aspects of polar opposites) within the “Tao”. The Tao “gives birth to one, one gives birth to two, two gives birth to three, and three gives birth to all things.
13 August 2024
Abusera Airport Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Design: Zaha Hadid Architects
photo © Alamy
Ethiopian Airlines Group to build Africa’s largest airport to meet the airlines’ growth forecasts. Design consultancy contract for new airport awarded to the consortium led by DAR and Zaha Hadid Architects.
16 April 2024
Masai Mara Conservation Centre, Kenya, East Africa
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) launched an international open design competition for a new Conservation Centre at the Oloololo Gate, Masai Mara, Kenya, on behalf of Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy, the philanthropic arm of travel company Abercrombie & Kent.
30 March 2024
The Seasons Villa Guinea, West Africa
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African Architecture Designs 2023
Contemporary Africa Building Designs – modern Built Environment & Architects Updates.
post updated 12 May 2025
African Architecture News – current updates
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African Architecture News 2023
21 Oct 2023
Solar Link, Murzuq District, Sahara Desert
Architectural design: Elija Halil
render : Joseph Christopher Seaward
Solar Link, Murzuq District, Sahara Desert
Architectural designer Elija Halil has unveiled a revolutionary solar-powered architectural project in the Sahara Desert that presents a remarkable solution to our global energy problems.
27 September 2023
FBW Group Delivers Four Points by Sheraton Kampala
The first Four Points by Sheraton hotel in Uganda, delivered by leading African planning, design, architecture and engineering team FBW Group, has opened its door to guests.
Four Points by Sheraton hotel in Uganda:
image courtesy of FBW Group
The new Four Points by Sheraton Kampala is set to play its part in the continuing post pandemic recovery of Uganda’s visitor economy.
FBW has led on the multi-million-dollar hotel development in the Ugandan capital providing its architecture, structural and civil and MEP engineering expertise.
The hotel offers 142 guest rooms and suites, restaurants, bars and a ballroom as well as meeting rooms, swimming pool and fitness centre.
The official opening earlier this month came as Uganda looks to attract more visitors from across the world with a new marketing initiative.
The ‘Explore Uganda, The Pearl of Africa’ brand promises to provide visitors with a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, according to the Uganda Tourism Board, which is behind the plan.
Recent figures also show Uganda’s tourism trade continuing to rebound post-pandemic with visitor numbers rising 59 per cent in 2022. Last year the country welcomed around 814,508 international visitors.
Sitting at the foot of Kololo Hill, an upscale residential area, and near to Nakasero, Kampala’s central business district, the new Four Points by Sheraton Kampala is around 40km from Entebbe International Airport.
FBW, which has operations in Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda, delivered a full design and construction service on the project, covering project management, architecture, structural and civil engineering as well as MEP engineering.
King Standard Room at Four Points by Sheraton hotel, Uganda:
image courtesy of FBW Group
Nigel Tilling, project director at FBW Group, said: “We’re delighted that this fantastic addition to Kampala’s visitor and hospitality offering is now complete and is opening to guests.
“The whole construction and design team had to cope with the extra pressures brought by the pandemic in the middle of the project.
“The newly delivered hotel stands as testament to the professionalism and determination of everyone involved, from the client team and construction crews to the engineers and architects.
“Four Points by Sheraton Kampala is part of the 31 Marriott International brands and one of the fastest-growing hospitality brands in the world and is sure to make a big impact on business and leisure travellers. It is an impressive sight.”
Four Points by Sheraton is a multinational hotel brand operated by Marriott International Inc that targets business travellers and conventions.
As of June 30, 2020, Marriott operated 291 properties worldwide under the Four Points by Sheraton brand, with 53,054 rooms. In addition, Marriott had 130 planned hotels with 27,342 additional rooms.
FBW has played its part in the development of the visitor economy in Uganda. It delivered Kampala’s first boutique hotel The Emin Pasha is set in two acres of tropical gardens in the centre of the city.
FBW was the architect, project manager and engineer on the luxury 20-room hotel development, which remains a popular destination.
The group’s architects and engineers have also worked on a number of high-profile signature hotel and leisure projects across East Africa.
These include the multi-million refurbishment of the Hotel Umubano in the Rwandan capital Kigali, several bespoke boutique lodges in Rwanda and Kenya and the design of a major international branded hotel in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.
Stuart Harley, the group’s chief operating officer, said: “The growth in hotel investment in Kampala and other cities in East Africa has mirrored the development of the visitor economy and we’re proud of the part we’ve played in some key developments, including this latest Four Points by Sheraton development.
“The hotel projects we have been involved in have played their part in raising standards and delivering quality experiences for visitors to Uganda as well as helping the growth of the tourism sector, which is now beginning to bounce back from the impact of Covid.”
FBW is a major player in the region’s construction and development sector, working on high-profile infrastructure projects.
The multi-disciplinary planning, design, architecture and engineering group currently has a workforce of more than 30 professionals delivering high value construction and development projects across Africa.
Its services include pre-design services, development consultancy, building appraisals and condition surveys, project management, architecture, civil and structural engineering, MEP engineering, telecommunication engineering, and other building consultancy services.
For more information on FBW Group and its services please visit www.fbwgroup.com
11 July 2023
Komera Leadership Center, Rwanda, East Africa
Architects: BE_Design
photo : Bruce Engel
Komera Leadership Center, Rwanda
15 September 2023
Sustainable Cities Are Vital In Meeting Africa’s Climate Challenges
Leading planning, design, architecture and engineering practice FBW Group says the inaugural Africa Climate Summit has highlighted the pressing need to deliver liveable cities with sustainability at their heart.
The role sustainable cities can play in becoming the centre of Africa’s “resilient future” was highlighted at the Africa Climate Summit, hosted by the government of Kenya in Nairobi, and during Africa Climate Week, which ran alongside the summit.
Following the gathering, African leaders committed to implementing policies, regulations and incentives aimed at attracting local, regional and global investment in green growth and inclusive economies.
Their calls to action include “leapfrogging” traditional industrial development and fostering green production and supply chains on a global scale.
The leaders’ statement also declared that investment into carbon credits should place Africa on the receiving side for green finance and spur sustainable transformations in fast growing African cities, in line with the UN development goals.
Welcoming the commitments to green growth, East African based FBW Group, part of the team tasked with delivering the trailblazing Kigali Green City project in the Rwandan capital, believes integrated climate solutions at a local level need to be accelerated.
These include scaling up the production and use of sustainable building materials, nature-based solutions, renewable energy and better transport solutions.
FBW also believes more global investment is needed to develop the local manufacturing of specialised products, to create African supply chains based on a circular economy rather than imports and to deliver more local jobs.
The Kigali Green City project FBW is involved in is looking to demonstrate that building green is “a necessity, not a luxury”.
It will feature a range of initiatives, including the use renewable energy, rainwater harvesting, wastewater management, recycling and reuse of water and sustainable transport solutions. All have a part to play in delivering a sustainable future.
The development will also deliver much needed quality homes for people in the lower-to-middle-income brackets.
FBW Group, which has offices in Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya, has been appointed to be the local team on the ground, delivering the key services of architecture, structural and civil engineering and mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering (MEP).
The firm’s initial roles in the Green City project include suggestions on local material supply, environmental standards and stakeholder engagement and submissions.
Antje Eckoldt, FBW Group director, says: “One of the aims of the project is to combine appropriate technologies, progressive thinking and the use of local skills and materials to show that this urban environment has everything it needs to sustain its community and for people to live green.”
As part of its work towards creating a circular economy to unlock green growth, FBW has been exploring local low-carbon construction methods and materials and how they can be used to their maximum affect.
That work includes collaborating with sustainable building material innovators such as Oxara on the use of new products to create stabilised earth blocks and other building material applications without the use of cement. It is an ongoing project.
Antje says: “If we are to reduce construction carbon impacts, including the reduction in the carbon impact of transporting materials over long distances, we need to deliver local solutions using local materials found on site for the majority of construction.
“Materials such as earth and stone were traditionally used in most cultures and they can be easily re-used and recycled as buildings come to the end of their life.
“We also need to scale-up production of these materials and create strong local supply chains that in turn deliver much needed employment.”
The mayors and governors of 12 African cities and metropolitan areas used the climate summit to call on national and international leaders to support them in creating “good, green jobs” and accelerating the transition to a sustainable economy.
FBW Group believes a strong and sustainable economic strategy has the potential to create tens of thousands of those jobs across Africa, in construction, green energy and other sectors.
FBW Group has been at the cutting edge of sustainable design and construction in Africa for more than two decades.
During that time it has gained a wealth of practical experience in the design and delivery of sustainable building solutions and green principles form an integral part of the design thinking that underlies all its work.
As part of its continuing commitment to ‘build green’ and to advocate for green buildings it is also a member of the Kenyan Green Building Society, part of the World Green Building Council. It is also a champion of the EDGE green building certification system.
Its team has been working with the International School of Kigali (ISK) to create a 21st Century ‘green’ campus. All its buildings have been designed to be constructed using locally made, eco-friendly brickwork, fired through a low embodied carbon technique.
Sustainability was another large consideration in its delivery of a masterplan for the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE) campus expansion project in Rwanda.
FBW also designed the campus in response to the distinctive climate that its highland forest setting brings, creating a pedestrian-friendly environment focusing on the natural landscape to provide external spaces for studying, physical activity and social interaction.
For more information on FBW Group and its projects and services across Africa please visit www.fbwgroup.com
29 + 28 June 2023
Berhan Bank Headquarter, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, northeast Africa
Design: Söhne & Partners
image courtesy of architects office
Berhan Bank Headquarter Addis Ababa
Söhne & Partners present their design for the new headquarters of Berhan Bank, developed as part of an architecture competition.
15 June 2023
Pure Power/Daily Combat Strategy for Water Collection, Rujewa, Tanzania, eastern Africa
Design: Hong-En,Lin
render : Hong-En,Lin
Pure Power, Tanzania, Eastern Africa
Hong-En, Lin introduces a Pure Power/Daily Combat Strategy for Water Collection in Africa, where water resources are often polluted or hard to reach.
6 June 2023
Bidi Bidi Refugee Music & Arts Centre, northern Uganda
Design: Hassell with LocalWorks
image courtesy of architects office
Bidi Bidi Pavilion at London Design Biennale
16 Jan 2023
Key Kenya Promotions as FBW Group Continues to Develop Talent
Leading African planning, design, architecture and engineering team FBW Group has announced two senior promotions as it looks to further develop its presence in Kenya over the next 12 months.
Charles Nganga and MaryRose Akii have been promoted to Associate level. They are both based in FBW’s office in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.
Charles has been working as a senior consultant and department head and MaryRose is also a department head and senior architect. They have played major roles on a wide range of high-profile projects led by the Nairobi office.
Their promotions come as FBW sees continuing post-pandemic growth, with a pipeline of work across its operations and opportunities throughout the continent.
The group is also looking to further grow its presence in Kenya as the tenth anniversary of the opening of its Nairobi operation approaches.
FBW, which has offices in Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda, also continues to invest in the development of the architects and engineers who will deliver Africa’s vision of green, sustainable urban growth. Its Kenyan office has played a key part in work towards the creation of a low-cost, affordable housing strategy for the country.
FBW Group Managing Director Paul Moores said: “We’re delighted to announce these promotions which highlight the strength-in-depth we have in all our disciplines and across the business.
“They further strengthen our management team as we look to increase our presence in Kenya and continue to expand into other parts of Africa as our pipeline of work in all sectors grows.
“Our people have a wealth of experience, and their range of knowledge ensures that we consistently deliver projects efficiently and cost-effectively, with our Nairobi operation playing a central role in work we are involved in across the continent.
“These well-deserved promotions are also recognition of the commitment MaryRose and Charles have shown, their importance to the group and the contribution they are making to FBW’s success.”
He added: “Talented people like these are our most precious asset. We work hard to grow and develop our young talent so they can play key roles in our portfolio of work and, beyond that, play their part in Africa’s development.”
MaryRose joined FBW in 2010 and became part of its Kenya team in 2019, arriving in Nairobi from the group’s Kampala head office in Uganda.
Her portfolio of work includes an ongoing health design project at a leading medical research centre in The Gambia.
She said: “One of the strengths of FBW is the way all its offices across East Africa work together to deliver projects and the interesting and varied work you are involved in as a result. The group is also heavily focused on sustainability and green design.
“I’m looking forward to continuing to develop and progress both professionally and within the business, playing my part in its continued growth.”
Charles joined FBW in 2018. Previously he had worked in the UK for more than a decade and studied at the University of Manchester.
During his time at FBW, he has worked on a range of high-profile projects, including several for Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA), the continent’s largest soft drinks bottler. He has also been part of the FBW teams delivering health and education projects in Rwanda and The Gambia.
Charles said: “The variety of projects you are involved in is one of the reasons that FBW such an enjoyable place to work.
“Career development is also important to the business and there are clear paths you can pursue. We’ve also got a strong supportive team at all levels of the business. People are here to see you succeed.”
FBW, which has worked for more than 25 years in Africa, is playing its part in growing its skills base and is also actively nurturing the development of young professionals in all its offices.
As well as an in-house intern programme and links with educational establishments, FBW’s commitment to professional development sees its young talent encouraged as they gain knowledge and experience on their career journeys.
FBW offers a wide range of in-house professional building and technical services. They include pre-design services, development consultancy, building appraisals and condition surveys, project management, architecture, civil and structural engineering, MEP engineering, telecommunication engineering, and other building consultancy services.
FBW has also built a strong track record in supporting British-based organisations to deliver international standards.
For more information on FBW Group and its work please visit www.fbwgroup.com
More African Architecture News online soon.
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African Architectural News 2022
24 Nov 2022
Kigali Green City Project, Rwanda
Design: Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios + regional architects Light Earth Designs, A Studio Space and Studio FH Architects
image : FCBS
Leading East African planning, design, architecture and engineering firm FBW Group has been appointed to the international team tasked with delivering the trailblazing Kigali Green City project in the Rwandan capital. The transformational development is being hailed as is an important milestone on the road to creating more sustainable green cities in the region and worldwide.
17 Nov 2022
Langue de Barbarie resort, Senegal
Design: Cosmos Architecture, of CosmosIvicsa
image courtesy of architects practice
The new resort in Langue de Barbarie located in Saint Louis, Senegal, is currently the biggest development in West Africa. This unique project has been designed by Cosmos Architecture, the design department of CosmosIvicsa, to make living in paradise a reality for those who want it.
23 July 2022
National Teachers Colleges, Mubende Uganda
Design: Oubuntu-DASUDA & BKVV Architects
photo : Eppo Karsijn
This building consists of a large-scale campus renovation and new build facilities at two educational locations near the towns of Kaliro and Mubende, both in Uganda. The build project for approximately 2,000 students, featuring 24 renovated buildings and eight new buildings, encompasses student and teacher housing, classroom buildings, energy-efficient kitchens, sports facilities, sustainable energy facilities, waste recycling systems, and food production facilities.
3 July 2022
Bringing health and hope to Burundi
A state-of-the-art 150 bed teaching hospital in Burundi that will deliver vital care for women and children in one of the poorest nations in Africa is on course to open its doors this year.
Kigutu Hospital and Women’s Health Pavilion building design in Burundi:
image : Bergen Street Studio
The US$20m Kigutu Hospital and Women’s Health Pavilion is the latest phase in a project transforming the remote mountain village of Kigutu into a centre of community-driven health care and education that is being delivered by Village Health Works (VHW) and will bring high quality surgical capacity to rural Burundi.
The medical facility is now in the final stages of construction. When completed, it will provide essential and emergency obstetrics and surgical care.
FBW Group was involved as project manager and lead designer in the detailed design stages of the development and is proud to have played a part in the successful delivery of the project to date.
FBW, which has offices in Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda, has helped deliver health projects in Africa, many in remote rural areas, for more than 25 years.
One in 23 women will die during pregnancy or childbirth in Burundi, where 80 per cent of the population lives on under $1 a day.
Once open, women will be able to give birth safely in a dignified environment, with access to immediate c-sections and other services to increase the safety of both mother and child.
The Kigutu Hospital and Women’s Health Pavilion will have seven delivery rooms, a prenatal and postnatal ward, a neonatal intensive care unit, nursery, general and malnutrition wards. It will also have an emergency room.
As well as saving lives and reducing needless suffering the facility will provide an excellent training and education environment for Burundian healthcare professionals, helping retain talent in the country.
Village Health Works is a New York-based non-profit organisation founded by Deogratias ‘Deo’ Niyizonkiza, an American citizen and medical doctor born in rural Burundi, who has become an inspirational voice in global health and international development.
Village Health Works has turned this area of Burundi into a bustling campus which serves a catchment area of 200,000 people.
The project began in 2005 when Deo travelled back to Burundi to establish VHW, with the goal of creating a healthcare system model in Kigutu.
Thanks to community-donated land, a small amount of seed money from American fellow students and supporters and the work of volunteers, the centre opened its doors to the community in December 2007.
FBW Group managing director Paul Moores said: “It’s fantastic to see that work on the Kigutu Hospital and Women’s Health Pavilion is progressing.
“It is a testament to the dedication, drive and determination of VHW and the team behind the project.
“This is a truly transformational development for Burundi and its people, delivering first-world quality health services to a remote part of rural Africa.
“The Women’s Health Pavilion will provide vital care for women and children in the region. It is a true ‘game changer’ in health services for Burundi and we’re proud to have played some part in its creation.”
24 June 2022
CEM Kamanar Secondary School Senegal
Design: Dawoffice / David Garcia, Aina Tugores
photo : Amir Anoushfar
When architects from Dawoffice saw the overcrowding at Thionck Essyl’s only secondary school, they resolved to build a new one through their charitable foundation, Foundawtion.
24 June 2022
Niamey 2000
Design: united4design / Yasaman Esmaili, Elizabeth Golden, Mariam Kamara, Philip Straeter
photo : Aboubacar Magagi
Living spaces open out onto self-shading courtyards, which are cooled by both cross and stack ventilation, each family unit contains two floors. The buildings are a direct response to the current housing and socio-economic conditions found in the city of Niamey.
3 June 2022
Outros Bairros Rehabilitation Programme in Mindelo, São Vicente, Cape Verde
Architect: OUTROS BAIRROS / Nuno Flores
photo : Nuno Flores
Growing out of a design initiative at the local Institute of Art, Technology and Culture, this rehabilitation of the Alto de Bomba district of the port city of Mindelo is rooted in the day-to-day life of the population.
19 May 2022
Nairobi Central Railway Station, Kenya
Architects: Atkins
image courtesy of architects practice
As part of the UK-Kenya Strategic Partnership, the UK and Kenyan governments have today launched the final design of Nairobi’s new Central Railway Station and public realm. The new design, which was completed by Atkins UK and handed over to Kenya Railways and the Ministry of Transport, is part of the wider Nairobi Railway City redevelopment programme, championed by President Kenyatta and supported by the UK government.
21 Apr 2022
Abidjan Tower, Ivory Coast Building, West Africa
Architecture: Paulo Merlini Architects
image : SA Digital Technology Co., Ltd
The Abidjan Tower is a building of sculptural character that dances on itself, taking advantage of the views of the surrounding lagoon. With two apartments per floor and surrounding balconies, the building developed for the upper class is a milestone that defines the start of the masterplan development for this part of the city.
15 Mar 2022
Focus on sustainability grows in East Africa
Focus on sustainability grows in East Africa
The focus on sustainability in building design and construction is set to become even sharper over the next 12 months, according to leading East African architecture and engineering practice FBW group. The group, which is helping deliver large-scale development projects across the region, believes a continuing focus on sustainable design and the increased use of locally sourced African materials is vital moving forward.
27 Jan 2022
Clinical Research Excellence And Training Open Resource Malawi Building, east Africa
Design: FBW Group
image courtesy of architects practice
The new Clinical Research Excellence and Training Open Resource (CREATOR) will provide the most sophisticated clinical research training environment in the region. It has been described as “paradigm shifting”, meaning a whole new way of thinking and doing business.
More African Architecture News on e-architect soon.
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African Architecture News 2021
Contemporary Africa Building Designs – modern Built Environment & Architects Updates
14 Dec 2021
International School of Kigali Building, Rwanda
image courtesy of architecture office
Leading architecture and engineering firm FBW Group is working with the International School of Kigali (ISK) to create a 21st Century ‘green’ campus in the Rwandan capital. The ambitious $5m project will deliver a centre of learning for 500 students, with modern classrooms, state-of-the-art laboratories, a ‘maker space’ and first-class sports facilities on a 2.3 hectares site in Kibagabaga.
8 Dec 2021
Kao La Amani Children’s Village, Northern Tanzania, eastern Africa
image courtesy of architecture office
In the town of Boma Ng’ombe in the Hai district of Kilimanjaro in northern Tanzania, a single-storey orphanage is home to 60 children between the ages of 3 to 18. In an overcrowded rented building where 3-4 children can share a bed, rooms are dark, and the grounds offer little space for outside play.
2 Dec 2021
Dakar Skyscraper Building: Johannes Baar-Baarenfels, Senegal, West Africa
Design: Architect Johannes Baar-Baarenfels, Vienna
image courtesy of architecture office
The Miami Center for Architecture & Design pays tribute to the latest work of Viennese architect Johannes Baar-Baarenfels – a skyscraper in the West African megacity Dakar.
9 Nov 2021
Earth Pyramid Senegal Building Design, West Africa
image courtesy of architecture office
An exciting project offering the earth’s population opportunity to record their hopes, dreams and opinions – digitally preserved into securely sealed time capsule.
22 Sep 2021
Building growth in Rwanda
A decade of building growth in Rwanda
14 Sep 2021
New Social Housing in Cameroon
Design: TAMassociati with Arup
image courtesy of architectural practice
TAMassociati, Impact Design experts and the former curatorial team of the Italian pavilion in 2016, in Venice, and Arup, the planning, design and consultancy company promotor of a single multidisciplinary approach to the “Total Design” project, present a world preview of a new masterplan: 10,000 new units of Social Housing in Cameroon. A pilot project for future planning throughout the African continent.
6 July 2021
Emergency Treatment Centre Farato, Gambia, West Africa
Design: IDOM
image courtesy of architects practice
The Government of Gambia has developed a National Plan for Preparedness and Response to COVID19. The COVID-19 Plan focuses on scaling up and strengthening all aspects of preparedness and response, including coordination, surveillance, case management, communication, and social, psychosocial mobilization, as well as logistics and safety.
19 May 2021
Senegal Technology Park Building, Diamniadio, near Dakar, Senegal, West Africa
Design: IDOM
image courtesy of architects practice
14 Jan 2021
Circular Economy Article
Circular Economy in Africa : FBW Group news
More African Architecture News online here soon.
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African Architecture News in 2020
24 Nov 2020
Mauritius Golf Estate Buildings, Abuja, Nigeria, western Africa
Design: Rodriguez Pons / Architects
image courtesy of architects
Mauritius Golf Estate is located on a green and scenic landscape, a development of 30 houses with a small golf course, which invites you to live a sustainable lifestyle. There are 4.3 hectares that include large recreational areas promoting a calm and elegant environment, which aims at an emotional well-being.
7 Oct 2020
Kingsway Tower, Ikoyi, Lagos, western Africa
Architects: SAOTA
image courtesy of architects
A landmark mixed-use building set on a prominent corner on Alfred Rewane Road, an arterial road that bisects the city leading north towards the airport and south to the Victoria Island. The building designed by South African architects SAOTA is 15-storeys high. It has a basement, a two-level retail podium, a parking podium and 12 office floor levels.
6 Aug 2020
US Investment Programme Is An African ‘game-changer’
Leading East African planning, design, architecture and engineering team FBW Group has welcomed the launch of the USA’s Africa Investment Advisor Programme as a potential “game-changer” for the region:
USA Africa Investment Advisor Programme
15 July 2020
University of Bambey Building, Diourbel, Senegal, West Africa
Design: IDOM
image from architects
In Senegal, shade and water are everything. This lecture-room block project, a close relative of another in Gaston Berger, San Luis, which was commissioned by the Ministry of Education and the World Bank, is set in the city of Bambey, located 120 km west of Dakar. With a population of 20,000, Bambey stands out for its peanut and cattle farming, its scarce urban infrastructures and the surrounding harsh life conditions.
7 Mar 2020
Mercury House on Island of Mahe, Seychelles
28 Jan 2020
Building Green Cities
Building Green Cities across Africa
3 Jan 2020
The Whale Bar, St Regis Hotel, The Maldives Resort
More African Architecture News is welcome.
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African Architecture News in 2019
21 Dec 2019
Malawi Creator Centre, Medical Training Building
14 Oct 2019
Keta Sandlanders Football Club, Ghana
Design: Inter Urban Studios
image from architects
Keta Sandlanders Football Club in Ghana
As part of volunteer work for Architecture for Humanity London, Inter Urban Studios are delivering a new football pitch and community centre for this sports co-op in Keta, coastal Ghana, that provides local youth a place to foster sporting skills, a place for community activities, as well as guidance on sustainable farming techniques.
14 May 2019
Ngaren: The Museum of Humankind, Kenya, East Africa
Design: Studio Libeskind
image from architects
Ngaren: The Museum of Humankind in The Great Rift Valley
Campaign for a new museum dedicated to the story of humans, Ngaren: The Museum of Humankind: the unprecedented project located in Kenya’s Rift Valley is designed by architect Daniel Libeskind, Studio Libeskind, the master plan architect of the World Trade Center site.
21 Mar 2019
Dakar Railway Station, Senegal, western Africa
Design: Iglo Architects
image from architects
Dakar Railway Station Building
Iglo Architects have undertaken the consultancy of Dakar Railway Station Project, which is the first one of the railway station projects to be implemented in total 21 different locations in Senegal. Accomplished by the joint works of France, Senegal and Turkey, the opening of the railway station will be held within this month.
19 Mar 2019
Joali Resort, Muravandhoo Island, North Maldives
Interior design: Autoban
photo from Guralla
Joali Resort on The Maldives
This new resort focuses on “creating a unique story that joins the flora of a natural wonder of the island”. As another showcase of the studio’s multi-layered design approach, it gives a new meaning to the island life through an unlimited and dynamic experience, with an integral and a unique understanding between interior and exterior spaces, and architecture.
7 Jan 2019
Solar Well, Sambacounda village, Senegal
Design: Raoul Vecchio Architect
image from architects
Solar Well in West Africa
The architecture surrounds the well to protect and give value to the water resource. The design is light and delicate, in strong relation with the natural context. Walls don’t create a closed space, but they include the context in the interior space. A system of wooden beams obtained with a local essence, is achieved by overlapping elements bolted to reach the necessary light (6 meters).
More Contemporary African Architecture News will be online soon.
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African Architecture News 2018
23 Nov 2018
Oceans Paradise, Hulhumale, the Maldives
Design: CAA (Core of Architecture & Art) Architects
image Courtesy architecture office
Maldives Airport Economic Zone Mixed-use Development
Architectural competition winning design, utilising rainwater and solar energy harvesting, plus passive cross ventilation and tidal power.
17 Sep 2018
Villa Banalia, Democratic Republic of Congo
Architects: BasaboseStudio
image Courtesy architects firm
Villa in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Villa Banalia is both a renovation and an adaptation of an old industrial storage building.
16 Sep 2018
Nyiragongo Villa I, North Kivu province, Congo, Republic of the Congo
Architects: BasaboseStudio
image Courtesy architecture office
Villa in the North Kivu province, Congo
Nyiragongo Villa I is the expression of resilience of the city and people of Goma. A city of one million people located on the northern shore of Lake Kivu, in the North Kivu province, DR Congo.
13 Sep 2018
A Blueprint for Africa’s Future Cities
A Blueprint for Africa’s Future Cities
image Courtesy architecture office
Archasm Wilderness Pavilion Kenya Competition
Firmly established as Africa’s most progressive business orientated jurisdiction, Mauritius’ forward-thinking and nimble policies have resulted in the island nation riding the wave to the centre of investment and development in Africa.
Archasm Wilderness Pavilion Kenya Competition
26 Jan 2018
Lagos’s Wooden Tower, Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria
Architects: Hermann Kamte & Associates (HKA)
image Courtesy architecture office
Originally designed as a submission for Metsä Wood’s City Above the City competition, Kamte’s design looks to tackle the problem of poorly planned construction in many African cities by pushing the boundaries of contemporary architecture.
More African Architecture News online here at e-architect soon.
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Africa Architectural Updates 2017
17 Nov 2017
Bristol Zoological Society Field Research Centre, Ankarafa Forest, Sahamalaza Peninsula, Radama National Park, northwestern Madagascar
Design: Landscape architect Grant Associates ; architect Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
photograph © FCBS
Bristol Zoological Society Field Research Centre Building in Madagascar
Landscape architect Grant Associates has teamed up with Bristol Zoological Society (BZS) and the Richard Feilden Foundation (RFF), in conjunction with fellow Bath based architect Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios (FCBStudios), in a project to save Madagascar’s critically endangered wildlife, including the blue-eyed black lemur, and their forest habitat.
The Whale Bar, The Maldives
Design: WOW Architects | Warner Wong Design
image Courtesy architecture office
The Whale Bar, St Regis Hotel, The Maldives
27 Jul 2017
British High Commission Project in Accra, Ghana
Design: Gilbert-Ash
British High Commission Project in Accra, Ghana
Award-winning UK construction, refurbishment and fit out contractor, Gilbert-Ash, has been awarded a fit-out project on the British Embassy in Accra, Ghana.
3 May 2017
Mashambas Skyscraper, Manyoni, Tanzania
Architects: Ggrupa
image Courtesy architecture office
Mashambas Skyscraper in Manyoni
An area of cultivated ground; a plot of land, a small subsistence farm for growing crops and fruit-bearing trees, often including the dwelling of the farmer.
2 May 2017
Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa
Architects: Sheppard Robson
image Courtesy architecture office
Nelson Mandela Childrens Hospital
The concept by London-based architects fulfils Nelson Mandela’s dream of providing a specialised facility for children.
18 + 1 Apr 2017
Currency Museum, Luanda, Angola
Design: COSTΛLOPES Architects
photo © Fabrice Fouillete
Currency Museum Luanda Building
The Currency Museum, which opened to the public in 2016, can be seen as one of the many steps towards establishing COSTΛLOPES as one of Angola’s leading architecture offices.
18 Mar 2017
Lusanga International Research Centre for Art and Economic Inequality, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
Design: OMA, Architects
image © OMA
Lusanga International Research Centre for Art and Economic Inequality
On April 21–22, a quintessential White Cube will be inaugurated on a former Unilever plantation in Lusanga, 650 km southeast of Kinshasa, D.R. Congo. Designed by OMA, this White Cube is a central element of the Lusanga International Research Centre for Art and Economic Inequality (LIRCAEI).
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Africa Architectural Updates 2016
1 Dec 2016
Grand Plaza Hotel, Cheraga, Algeria
Design: DNA Barcelona Architects
image Courtesy architecture office
Cheraga Hotel Building
The hotel has been designed in a manner that perfectly adapts to its environment. The design responds to the existing forms and the urban traces of its surroundings.
29 Oct 2016
New Parliament in Algeria, North Africa
Design: Bureau Architecture Méditerranée
image Courtesy architecture office
New Algerian Parliament
The New Algerian Parliament includes the People’s National Assembly, the National Council (Senate), the Chamber (Congress), and a residence for legislators.
23 Jun 2016
Coral Hotel on the Seychelles
Design: ARCHITECTS OF INVENTION
image Courtesy architecture office
The project implies construction of an upscale lifestyle community comprised of a professionally serviced apartment complex, located on the reclaimed part of the main island of Seychelles– Sailwin.
18 Jan 2016
Finolhu Villas Hotel, The Maldives
Design: Yuji Yamazaki Architecture
image Courtesy architecture office
New Hotel in the Maldives
The world’s first entirely solar powered five-star resort is now open to guests. The Maldives has the lowest average ground level of any nation, which makes for some of the world’s most beautiful beaches.
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Africa Property Developments Updates 2015
21 Oct 2015
Le Parc de Mont Choisy Golf and Beach Estate, Grand Baie, Mauritius
Design: SAOTA
image Courtesy architecture office
Mont Choisy Homes in Mauritius
The site used to be a sugar plantation and has some wonderful historic buildings and avenues of Banyan and Flamboyant trees that will be retained.
26 Jul 2015
Pediatric Cancer Centre, Kigali, Rwanda
Architects: David Adjaye – Adjaye Associates
image Courtesy architecture office
Pediatric Cancer Centre in Kigali
Located in Kigali, Rwanda, on a 4 Hectare site, the pediatric cancer centre will provide a hospital and lodging facility for outpatients who need to reside close to the hospital, as well as residential housing for physicians and nurses.
27 Apr 2015
Disappearing Vernacular African Architecture
Article: Jon Twingi Sojkowski
Verandah wraps around a home Penganga village
Disappearing Vernacular African Architecture
The desire to modernize has created a situation in which traditional customs and practices are being abandoned. This is true even in the most remote of villages.
18 Feb 2015
60 sandbags classrooms, Mbera refugee camp, Mauritania
Architects: FARE Studio
image Courtesy architecture office
Sandbags Classrooms in Mauritania
In Mauritania between 2012 and 2014 FAREstudio operated at the Mbera Refugee Camp as ‘construction expert’ for Italian NGO INTERSOS, an implementing partner of a UN agency within the framework of a primary education program aimed at improving teaching-and-learning provisions in the camp and nearby communities.
11 Feb 2015
Youths Training Center, Sassara, Central African Republic
Architects: FARE Studio
image Courtesy architecture office
Youths Training Center in Central African Republic
FRC is a project that FAREstudio designed and partially managed in a post conflict rural area of Central African Republic of a youths Training Center for the rehabilitation and social reintegration, through training in agricultural and pastoral activities, of children and teenagers with problematic social and cultural backgrounds, including former child soldiers.
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Africa Property Development Update 2014
18 Nov 2014
The Legson Kayira Community Center & Primary School, Malawi, southeast Africa
Design: Architecture for a change
Community Center & Primary School Building in Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi.
More African Architecture News online soon
Location: Africa.
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Architectural Design
Contemporary Building Designs – recent relevant architectural selection from e-architect below:
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