Burkina Institute of Technology: High-Tech in Poured Earth
Expanding the Koudougou educational campus, the Burkina Institute of Technology (BIT) houses cutting-edge digital infrastructure within walls of poured local clay. Using a groundbreaking cast-in-situ earth technique, the project bridges the gap between rapid, scalable construction and indigenous material tradition.
There is a poetic irony here: a center for coding and digital technology built from the most primal material on earth. But BIT is not about nostalgia; it’s about scalability. Unlike the hand-stacked bricks of Gando, this project uses large-scale formwork to pour clay like concrete. Kéré is showing us that "vernacular" doesn't mean "slow", it can be industrialized to meet Africa's urgent infrastructure needs.
The Vision: The Modular Matrix
Commissioned by the Stern Stewart Institute following the success of the neighboring Lycée Schorge, this facility was designed for a new purpose: higher education in technology.
Departing from the radial, village-like layout of the Lycée, BIT adopts a strict orthogonal grid. The design consists of repeated rectangular modules that house classrooms and auxiliary functions. These modules are staggered rather than aligned perfectly, creating a "breathable" courtyard. This arrangement allows air to flow through the gaps and enter the central void, ensuring the students have a cool, social space to interact. Crucially, this modular grid is future-proof; the campus can expand incrementally by simply adding more units as enrollment grows.
Tectonics: Casting the Earth
The defining innovation of BIT is its construction method. Building on experimental techniques from the Naaba Belem Goumma Secondary School, Kéré Architecture replaced traditional masonry with cast-in-situ clay.
Poured, Not Stacked: Large formworks, similar to those used for concrete, were erected, and a mixture of local clay and a small percentage of cement was poured directly into them.
Speed & Scale: This method allowed an entire module to be poured in a single session, drastically reducing the construction timeline.
Visual Unity: To tie the new institute visually to the adjacent Lycée Schorge, the clay structures are wrapped in a familiar "skin" of local eucalyptus wood. This wooden screen filters light and creates shaded walkways, unifying the campus aesthetic.
The Living Building: Hybrid Performance
While the building uses passive strategies, it acknowledges the reality of its function. IT equipment generates heat and requires strict temperature control, necessitating mechanical air conditioning in the classrooms. However, the architecture significantly reduces the energy load:
Thermal Mass: The massive poured clay walls act as a thermal battery, keeping the base temperature low so the AC units don't have to work as hard.
The Chimney Effect: The roof profile is rhythmic and functional. At the back of each module, the roof creates a chimney that allows warm air to rise and release naturally.
Flood Defense: Located on a flood plain, the site required a landscape-based defense strategy. The design channels heavy rain away from the buildings and into a large underground tank. This harvested water isn't wasted; it is used to irrigate the extensive mango plantations on campus, turning a flood risk into a resource.
Data Sheet
Project: Burkina Institute of Technology (BIT)
Location: Koudougou, Burkina Faso
Architect: Kéré Architecture
Completion Year: 2020
Area: 1,000 m²
Client: Stern Stewart Institute & Friends
Key Materials: Cast-in-situ Clay (Poured Earth), Eucalyptus Wood, Corrugated Metal
Landscape Strategy: Floodwater harvesting for mango plantation irrigation
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