Kéré Architecture GmbH

Startup Lions Campus

Startup Lions Campus
Courtesy of Kéré Architecture

STARTUP LIONS CAMPUS

Kéré Architecture

LEAD ARCHITECT
Diébédo Francis Kéré

CONSTRUCTION
BuildX Studio

DESIGN TEAM
Kinan Deeb, Andrea Maretto Kéré Architecture

CONTRIBUTORS
Juan Carlos Zapata, Leonne Vögelin, Charles André, Malak Nasreldin Kéré Architecture

PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Kinan Deeb, Kéré Architecture

CLIENT
Learning Lions gUG (haftungsbeschränkt) Germany

ENGINEERING
BuildX Studio

AREA
1416 m²

YEAR
2021

LOCATION
Kenya

CATEGORY
Campus, Offices, Office Buildings

Text description provided by architect.

The Startup Lions Campus is an information and communication technologies (ICT) campus, located on the banks of Lake Turkana, Kenya.

Startup Lions Campus
Courtesy of Kéré Architecture
Startup Lions Campus
Courtesy of Kéré Architecture

The project responds to the pressing challenge of youth unemployment faced in the region by offering high-level training and access to international job opportunities, allowing young entrepreneurs to thrive professionally without having to leave their place of origin.

The campus will provide 100 new workstations and is the first step in an ambitious vision of spreading ICT networks in remote areas.

Startup Lions Campus
Courtesy of Kéré Architecture
Startup Lions Campus
Courtesy of Kéré Architecture

The project celebrates the unique morphology and natural beauty of its site. It is built over two levels that follow the natural slope and features extensive roof terraces that offer sweeping views over Lake Turkana.

The roof terraces are shaded by creeping vegetation, providing pleasant outdoor meeting spaces and opportunities for the informal exchange of ideas.

Startup Lions Campus
Courtesy of Kéré Architecture
Startup Lions Campus
Courtesy of Kéré Architecture

The building takes inspiration from the towering mounds built by termite colonies in the region. Tall ventilation towers create a stack effect to naturally cool the main working spaces by extracting warm air upwards, while fresh air is introduced through specially designed low-level openings.

This system allows the campus to withstand high temperatures and is especially well suited as it prevents dust from damaging the IT equipment. 

In addition to their functional role, the towers create a landmark in the surroundings.

Startup Lions Campus
Courtesy of Kéré Architecture
Startup Lions Campus
Courtesy of Kéré Architecture
Startup Lions Campus
Courtesy of Kéré Architecture

The campus is built out of locally sourced quarry stone with a plaster finish.

In choosing which materials and construction techniques to use, ecological sustainability, cost, and availability factors were weighed to arrive at the best compromise.

Collaboration with the local community was key in this decision-making process, drawing from their experience and expertise.

Startup Lions Campus
Courtesy of Kéré Architecture


Startup Lions Campus
Courtesy of Kéré Architecture
Startup Lions Campus
Courtesy of Kéré Architecture
Startup Lions Campus
Courtesy of Kéré Architecture
Startup Lions Campus
Courtesy of Kéré Architecture
Startup Lions Campus
Courtesy of Kéré Architecture
Startup Lions Campus
Courtesy of Kéré Architecture


Startup Lions Campus
Campus Diagram 
Startup Lions Campus
Vatilation Diagram 
Startup Lions Campus
Window Deatail Diagram 
Startup Lions Campus
Sections 


Startup Lions Campus
East Elevation 
Startup Lions Campus
South Elevation 


Startup Lions Campus
First Leval Plan 
Startup Lions Campus
Second Leval Plan 
Startup Lions Campus
Third Leval Plan 
Startup Lions Campus
Site Plan 


Startup Lions Campus
Model. Image Courtesy of Kéré Architecture

Kéré Architecture GmbH
T +49 30 78952391
Kéré Architecture GmbH
Arndtstraße 34, 10965 Berlin, Germany