Komera Leadership Centre is a versatile hub for education and community building

The Komera Leadership Centre built in the rural eastern province of Rwanda, is intended to be a unique facility that provides several programmes for young women. Focused on providing facilities for the locals, the centre is equipped to run programmes related to health, education, and mentorship curricula. Designed by BE_Design, this place is intended to be a haven dedicated to initiatives regarding family development as well as community gatherings. The centre leverages its strategic location opposite the village football pitch and is easily accessible from the main road.

Rwanda is notably one of the most densely populated countries in the continent of Africa. Since the 1994 Civil War, Rwanda has gone through a remarkably rapid restoration and has one of the highest development rates. 

Komera Leadership Centre, which is dedicated to empowering girls and women to gain education and independence, works with the local government in the southeastern province of southern Kayonza. The centre, which opened its doors in 2022, is the latest venture of the institution's holistic approach to education and community building and acts as a community and hub for locals.

Architect and founder of BE_Design, Bruce Engel has received recognition for various projects including residential homes, museum exhibitions, graphic design, art installations, commercial projects, and furniture design. In 2010 Engel moved to Rwanda, and in 2016 founded BE_DESIGN. The firm is now active in Tanzania, Rwanda and Ghana with the collaboration of local architects and talents and has done several contributions to the development of the region.

The Leadership Centre is a combination of several spaces utilised for parking, classrooms, gathering and communal spaces, and administrative services. The spaces used as classrooms and gathering centres feature movable walls that have given immense flexibility to the spaces. These walls are large, hinging translucent panels that can move and transform the space. This is an innovative and economical solution to give dynamism and multiple functions to a space.

The flexible nature of the structure allows for multiple spatial arrangements of how the centre's architecture would function. For instance, when the panels, which make up the walls of the structure, are completely closed, they create three classrooms, two indoors and one outdoors. A sizable meeting hall is created if the panels are opened at 90 degrees, with the capacity to accommodate a significant number of the community. Additionally, when fully opened to 270 degrees, the capacity of the space is augmented even further and can accommodate larger events such as performances or even ceremonies. A few large adjacent storage spaces are also considered on two sides to enable these transforming spatial functions.

The main element of community building is the large roofs that connect different spaces with a variety of functions. This solution is also more cost-effective and creates an abundance of exterior spaces that are shaded and can be used for outdoor classes and meetings. The large woven screens provide shade from the sun and create a sense of tranquillity, enclosure and privacy for the exterior spaces allowing the community and the students to enjoy the outdoors while feeling protected.

The roof is formed by screens woven by eucalyptus shreds and their brick patterns are inspired by traditional "Imigongo" art. Imigongo is a unique traditional art form that originates from Rwanda and dates back several centuries. It is characterised by its use of geometric patterns and vibrant colours, often applied to create decorative paintings. Imigongo paintings are created using a mixture of cow dung and natural clay, which is moulded into various geometric patterns. Many Imigongo patterns have symbolic meanings tied to Rwandan culture and history. Some designs represent fertility, prosperity, protection, or other cultural values.

From its design to construction, BE_Design has strived to include the local community with various degrees of expertise in the building of this community centre. The Komera Leadership Centre was constructed in collaboration with Rwanda Village Enterprises and a vast majority of materials utilised for construction were locally sourced. The local workforce was hired by BE_Design for the construction, from which an average of 40 per cent were women. During the construction, BE_Design provided on-site skilled labour training and strived to provide the workers with good income and savings accounts, PPE and safety equipment, and construction skills. The firm worked and still maintains a close connection with the community since the architects believed that the involvement and contribution of the local people were vital for the construction of the Komera Leadership Centre and is key to its endurance.