Inspired by termite mounds in the region, Kéré Architecture fitted the Startup Lions Campus with striking cooling chimneys. The ventilation towers create a stack effect to naturally cool the building by extracting wam air upwards. Fresh air is introduced through specially designed low openings. This low-tech system deals cleverly with the hot Kenyan climate and prevents dust from damaging the computers.
The campus, located on the banks of Lake Turkana, is a response to the severe youth unemployment in the region. By offering high-level training and access to job opportunities, the startup campus offers young entrepreneurs a place to thrive without having to leave their country.
The two-storey building follows the natural slope.The roof terraces, shaded by creeping vegetation, give panoramic views over Lake Turkana. Kéré Architecture wanted to celebrate the unique morphology and natural beauty of the site.
“We had imagined an educational facility that blended with the striking natural landscape that surrounds it, mirroring the ingenious structures built by the terminates close by. It is a special honour for me and my team to have been able to provide the shape for this incredible educational facility and I am looking forward to how it may expand and most importantly see its students succeed.”
- Francis Kéré, Founder Kéré Architecture
The structure is made out of locally sourced quarry stone finished with plaster. Ecological sustainability, cost and availability weighed heavily in choosing which materials and construction techniques to use.
The ICT facility will provide training and education for 200 students. The students can live, learn and work on the campus. The architects collaborated with the local community in the decision-making process, drawing from their experience and expertise.
