A gathering space sits at the heart of the Komera Leadership Center. Framed by a series of translucent panels, the room breathes in and out. When the hinged panels rotate 90 degrees, a trio of enclosed classrooms transforms into a larger community meeting hall. And when they rotate 270 degrees, the meeting hall becomes an indoor-outdoor venue that welcomes performances and ceremonies, spilling out onto the district of Kayonza and the sloping Rwandan countryside beyond.
The welcoming, community-oriented and versatile space is emblematic of BE_Design‘s scheme. Led by architect Bruce Engel (who previously worked with Sharon Davis on projects throughout the region, including the nearby Women’s Opportunity Centre), the boutique international practice — with offices in New York and the Rwandan capital of Kigali — drew on extensive local experience to integrate a diverse range of uses — and possibilities — into a facility carefully cultivated to suit the climate and culture. Moreover, both the program and the construction process were specifically designed to foster opportunities for local women.
The design combines a landmark community centre with health, education, and mentorship programs for young women, as well as family development initiatives. Situated on Kayonza’s main road — and directly adjacent to the soccer pitch that serves as an informal local hub — the complex is a prominent local presence, distinguished by its creative yet deeply contextual architecture.
Inspired by the sophisticated geometric forms and colour-blocked designs of the region’s Imigongo art — traditionally made by Rwandan women using cow dung — the Komera Leadership Center’s angular roof forms and herringbone brick patterns are a beacon on the landscape.
From a distance, the roofline’s irregular sawtooth pattern catches the eye, and up close, woven eucalyptus screens that dissolve the boundaries between indoor and outdoor environments, creating comfortably shaded environments that invite passerby — including tired soccer players — into informal, social spaces outfitted with ample public seating.
Built with abundant and relatively inexpensive local materials — which ensured reduced carbon costs — the construction process also welcomed local participation. BE_Design worked with community members to help shape the design and program, while also employing a local workforce with 40 per cent female representation, and providing on-site skilled labor training. In other words, it took a village.
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