Francis Kéré completes Goethe-Institut Dakar with climate-responsive design in Senegal

In Senegal's Corniche Ouest district, the Goethe-Institut Dakar has been completed by architect Francis Kéré, a recipient of the Pritzker Prize. This marks Kéré's inaugural large-scale institutional endeavor. The design embodies both Kéré's and the Goethe-Institut's aspirations for Dakar’s environment, fostering intercultural exchange through eco-friendly architecture. The two-story building includes a courtyard, a single-story entrance pavilion, and a main two-story section that centers around a revered baobab tree. The ground floor houses a library, auditorium, laboratory, and café, while classrooms and offices are situated on the upper level. Employing passive building techniques, local materials are used for thermal mass and ventilation, with local firms Atelier Worofila and Élémenterre involved in the innovative design process.