Rwandan architect redesigns urban development in Africa

DW (English)

Jean-Paul Sebuhayi is a Rwandan architect at MASS Design Group who specializes in high-impact community-oriented projects such as schools, hospitals and public spaces. His designs focus on sustainability and human dignity.

Transcript

00:00Architecture can be used to tackle some of the world's most pressing problems, especially

00:05in Africa. And with the continent's population and development booming, it is becoming increasingly

00:11important to nurture local talent. Rwanda has only had a school of architecture since

00:172010, and Jean-Paul Sebuhayi was one of its first graduates. What motivates him, and how

00:24do his buildings promote sustainable development? Let's find out.

00:30When I was a kid, my grandfather had a disease. His lungs had an issue, and he was hospitalised

00:39at the health centre. He didn't have electricity, he didn't have proper learning water. He was

00:47in this little room with a very tiny window. Now that I'm an architect, I can easily relate

00:53to that and find that there was issues with the design of the space, the design of the

01:00hospital. They treat you for one disease, but you go home with another disease that you caught

01:05from that space.

01:07It was this experience that prompted him to study architecture. As a student, he was supposed

01:12to focus on people and look for socially and ecologically sustainable solutions. This was

01:18still a relatively unknown approach at the time. What was the atmosphere like when he embarked

01:23on this pioneering journey?

01:25The majority of people thought you were crazy. How can you choose something that you don't

01:32even know what is tomorrow for it, tomorrow for you when you are graduating? All of it

01:38was just pretty much starting from zero. You don't know what you're doing. You're pretty

01:43much lost, and you're trying to find your ways.

01:47The perspective changed when Rwanda launched the Kigali Master Plan, a key element of sustainable

01:54development that includes flexibility in construction and the promotion of social inclusion. This

01:59was a turning point for Jean-Paul Sebuhayi, as it confirmed that architecture supports development.

02:05But what exactly did the plan trigger?

02:07That was more of something that gave me the courage again to say, you did not make the

02:13wrong choice. You've made the right choice because your country needs you. Your services

02:19are going to be very important to the development of your country and your people at the same time.

02:25This is our material library, and we have construction materials. Because investing in local people

02:33to make tiles like this one, first of all, there's economic impact. When you do this, this person

02:41hires other people to manufacture more tiles. That money stays within the community, instead

02:49of buying things from abroad.

02:52Having grown up with poorly designed public buildings, Jean-Paul Sebuhayi knows how they

02:57affect health. That's why he designed spaces that serve the community. For the past 11 years,

03:03he has been managing projects around the world for the Mass Design Group in Kigali. But is

03:08it possible to respond to people's specific needs in every project?

03:13It's all about you finding the true meaning of what you're doing. And to me, this is that

03:20meaning.

03:21At Mass, Jean-Paul Sebuhayi specializes in designing impactful community-oriented projects, such

03:29as schools, hospitals and public spaces, all with a focus on sustainability and human dignity.

03:36One of his most important projects is the maternity waiting village in Malawi. Here, architecture

03:42solves specific cultural needs by providing a safe place for expectant mothers. But what

03:48exactly makes this project so valuable?

03:50is it possible?

03:51Pregnancy is not a sickness. These mothers are moving from their homes to come to another

04:00home. They are not coming to the hospital. They are not being hospitalized because they

04:03are not sick. So they come to this home, they wait. It's as if you were to stay in your home,

04:09right? I remember, like, two years after the project was completed, I went back there. They

04:14were in these courtyards, dancing their traditional songs. You know, the vibes were much more positive.

04:25For Jean-Paul Sebuhayi, impactful architecture goes hand-in-hand with environmental responsibility,

04:31precisely because construction contributes significantly to carbon emissions.

04:37Close to 40% of the carbon emitted comes from the construction industry. So these shiny buildings

04:46we see, these shiny buildings we create, we are creating something looking nice on one

04:52hand, and on the other hand, we are destroying our future. Who's going to live in those buildings

04:57when this planet will no longer have a life?

05:01That's why he integrates sustainable practices into all projects, starting with the designs to be

05:06planned as low impact. For example, at the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture,

05:12care was taken to power the campus with solar energy, collect rainwater and recycle wastewater.

05:19The buildings are strategically positioned so that they are naturally ventilated, which reduces

05:25mechanical cooling and saves energy. Attention has also been paid to soil conservation in the design

05:32of the landscape, reflecting a commitment to sustainable agriculture.

05:38Honestly, if the work I do wasn't solving problems that my people go through, I should be somewhere else.

05:45Maybe I should have gone back and become a priest, serve another purpose in life.

05:55Despite his initial skepticism about the effectiveness of architecture,

05:59Jean-Paul Cebuahi is now convinced that it is the right tool for change.

06:04From his office in Kigali, Rwanda, he effectively combines his practical knowledge

06:09with innovative building solutions. Each of his projects reflects his commitment

06:14to shape the future as an architect.

Category

Transcript

Be the first to comment

Recommended