Christian Benimana | The next generation of African architects and designers c/o TED

Key Takeaways

On Africa’s industrial revolution depending on uniquely African solutions:

“When I went back home to Rwanda, there I found development patterns similar to what I saw in China. The country was and still is experiencing its own population and economic growth. The pressure to build cities, infrastructure and buildings is at its peak. And as a result there is a massive building boom as well. And this is the reality across the entire continent of Africa and here’s why.

By 2050 Africa's population will double, reaching 2.5 billion people. At this point, the African population will be slightly less than the current population of China and India combined.

The infrastructure and buildings needed to accommodate this many people is unprecedented in the history of humankind. We have estimated that by 2050 we have to build 700 million more housing units, more than 300,000 schools, and nearly 100,000 health centers. To put this in perspective, everyday for the next 35 years, we have to build 7 health centers, 25 schools, and nearly 60,000 housing units each day, every day.

How are we going to build all of this?

Are we going to follow a model of unsustainable building and construction, similar to what I witnessed in china? Or can we develop a uniquely African model of sustainable and equitable development? I’m optimistic we can. I know Africans who are already doing it.”

On using architecture and design to solve complex problems:

“A pregnant woman in Malawi either gives birth at home or she has to walk a really long journey to the nearest clinic. And 1 out of 36 of these mothers die during childbirth.

In Malawi, with our team at MASS Design Group, we designed the Kasungu Maternity Waiting Village. This is a place women come to 6 weeks before their due dates. Here they receive prenatal care and train in nutrition and family planning. At the same time, they form a community with other expectant mothers and their families. The design of the Kasungu Maternity Waiting Village borrows from the vernacular typologies of Malawi villages and is built using really simple materials and techniques. The earth blocks that we used were made from the same soil of the site. This reduces the carbon footprint of this building, but first and foremost it provides a safe and dignified space for these expecting mothers.”

On engaging the Diaspora and inspiring confidence in the next generation:

“In May of this year, we convened a symposium on African architecture in Kigali, and we invited many of the leading African designers and architectural educators working across the continent. We all had one thing in common. Every single one of us went to school abroad and outside of Africa. This has to change. If we are to develop solutions unique to us, rather than attempting to turn Kigali into Beijing, or Lagos into Shenzhen, we need a community that will build the design confidence of the next generation of African architects and designers. In September [2015] last year we launched the African Design Centre to start building this community.”