Article source: BC Architects

The first library of Muyinga, part of a future inclusive school for deaf children, in locally sourced compressed earth blocks, built with a participatory approach.

Our work in Africa started within the framework of OpenStructures.net. BC was asked to scale the “Open structures” model to an architectural level. A construction process involving end-users and second-hand economies was conceived. Product life cycles, water resource cycles en energy cycles were connected to this construction process. This OpenStructures architectural model was called Case Study (CS) 1: Katanga, Congo. It was theoretical, and fully research-based. 5 years later, the library of Muyinga in Burundi nears completion.

Image Courtesy © BC Architects

• Architects: BC Architects
• Project: Library for the community
• Location: Muyinga, Burundi
• Client: ODEDIM
• Local material consultancy: BC studies
• Community participation and organisation: BC studies and ODEDIM Muyinga
• Cooperation: ODEDIM Muyinga NGO, Satimo vzw, Sint-Lucas Architecture University, Sarolta Hüttl, Sebastiaan De Beir, Hanne Eckelmans
• Financial support: Satimo vzw, Rotary Aalst, Zonta Brugge, Province of West-Flanders
• Budget: 40 000 €
• surface: 140m2
• Concept: 2012
• Status: Completed