Kéré Architecture designs a healthcare campus in Burundi
In Bubanza, about 30 kilometers north of Bujumbura, Burundi, Francis Kéré and Kéré Architecture plan the Ineza clinic, a decentralized healthcare campus built into a steep, north-facing hillside. Designed to support the region’s rural population, the project complements an existing general hospital, while introducing dedicated obstetric and surgical care. A main spine road organizes the site, rising from the national route below to a visitor zone above, stitching together ten pavilions distributed along the ground.
The buildings follow existing contour lines, reducing excavation and maintaining the natural profile of the hill, allowing the clinic to maintain clear and legible traffic for staff, patients and visitors, while optimizing adjacencies between departments. The kiosk system breaks down the scale of the hospital into accessible units, improving orientation and creating a more humane healthcare environment.
outpatient unit | all images © Kéré Architecture unless otherwise noted
Climate responsive design and passive comfort
All Ineza clinic structures are oriented according to prevailing winds to maximize cross ventilation and minimize reliance on mechanical systems. The maternity and outpatient units share a typology with irregular perimeters that create shaded waiting zones, incorporating built-in seating along their edges. Above, a ventilated roof system, improved through previous works by studioprotects from heavy seasonal rainfall while promoting air flow. Instead, the surgical wing introduces vertical chimneys for stack ventilation, combined with individual windows for each patient yard, ensuring daylight, views and a sense of dignity during recovery.
Kéré Architecture’s Ineza Clinic is constructed using locally sourced materials and custom building techniques developed by the practice. Perforated walls and screens are made of locally made clay bricks, while ramps and retaining structures use stone from nearby quarries. Alongside construction, the team actively trains local workers, sharing know-how and building regional capacity. This approach reduces the project’s carbon footprint while supporting the local economy and embedding knowledge in the community.
outpatient unit
outpatient unit and pharmacy
delivery unit
surgical ward
foundations of one of the Ineza clinic buildings built with local stone © Epitace Niyubahwe
facade mock-up development, January 2026 © Kéré Architecture
facade mockup, January 2026
aerial view of the Ineza clinic site, March 2026 © Epitace Niyuhabhe
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delivery axonometric unit
maternity ward
site plan
operating room ventilation diagram
construction site, January 2026
Clinical model Ineza
project information:
name: Ineza Clinic
architect: Francis Kéré, Kéré Architecture | @kerearchitecture
location: First, Burundi
area: 3,000 sq.m
design team: Giovanni Bortolotti, Maria Paula Rodriguez Sarmiento
coefficients: Pierre Jules Gagniére, Ben Nepomuk Klages, Sophie Schräder, Pablo Sanchez Sanus, Jonathan Wiedemann, Valeria Torrens Zapata, LeonneZoe Vögelin
engineering: EVAN Company, Bujumbura, Burundi
general contractor: Robuco Group, Bujumbura, Burundi
customer: Ineza Clinic Burundi
