Berlin-based design firm Kéré Architecture has just finished the design of the Thomas Sankara Mausoleum located in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. It was constructed as a commemoration of the country’s previous president who was assassinated in the 80s. The mausoleum was made with locally sourced laterite and clay bricks, which construct the resting place of Thomas Sankara.

He was known for his efforts in fighting for women’s rights, economic independence of the country, and environmental initiatives. The studio founder Diébédo Francis Kéré explains, “This is the first time I have been asked to take on the responsibility of constructing a building in memory of a great figure. It has now been transformed into a space of encounter and recreation, that fosters remembrance, respect, and hope. The mausoleum will be a space that belongs to the people.”

Image Credit: Kéré Architecture