Jean-Paul Sebuhayi is an architect from Rwanda who specializes in impactful community-oriented projects such as schools, hospitals and public spaces. His designs focus on sustainability and human dignity.
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00:00Architecture can be used to tackle some of the world's most pressing problems, especially
00:05in Africa. And with the continent's population and development booming, it is becoming increasingly
00:11important to nurture local talent. Rwanda has only had a school of architecture since
00:172010, and Jean-Paul Sebuhayi was one of its first graduates. What motivates him, and how
00:24do his buildings promote sustainable development? Let's find out.
00:30When I was a kid, my grandfather had a disease. His lungs had an issue, and he was hospitalised
00:39at the health centre. He didn't have electricity, he didn't have proper learning water. He was
00:47in this little room with a very tiny window. Now that I'm an architect, I can easily relate
00:53to that and find that there was issues with the design of the space, the design of the
01:00hospital. They treat you for one disease, but you go home with another disease that you caught
01:05from that space.
01:07It was this experience that prompted him to study architecture. As a student, he was supposed
01:12to focus on people and look for socially and ecologically sustainable solutions. This was
01:18still a relatively unknown approach at the time. What was the atmosphere like when he embarked
01:23on this pioneering journey?
01:25The majority of people thought you were crazy. How can you choose something that you don't
01:32even know what is tomorrow for it, tomorrow for you when you are graduating? All of it
01:38was just pretty much starting from zero. You don't know what you're doing. You're pretty
01:43much lost, and you're trying to find your ways.
01:47The perspective changed when Rwanda launched the Kigali Master Plan, a key element of sustainable
01:54development that includes flexibility in construction and the promotion of social inclusion. This
01:59was a turning point for Jean-Paul Sebuhayi, as it confirmed that architecture supports development.
02:05But what exactly did the plan trigger?
02:07That was more of something that gave me the courage again to say, you did not make the
02:13wrong choice. You've made the right choice because your country needs you. Your services
02:19are going to be very important to the development of your country and your people at the same time.
02:25This is our material library, and we have construction materials. Because investing in local people
02:33to make tiles like this one, first of all, there's economic impact. When you do this, this person
02:41hires other people to manufacture more tiles. That money stays within the community, instead
02:49of buying things from abroad.
02:52Having grown up with poorly designed public buildings, Jean-Paul Sebuhayi knows how they
02:57affect health. That's why he designed spaces that serve the community. For the past 11 years,
03:03he has been managing projects around the world for the Mass Design Group in Kigali. But is
03:08it possible to respond to people's specific needs in every project?
03:13It's all about you finding the true meaning of what you're doing. And to me, this is that
03:20meaning.
03:21At Mass, Jean-Paul Sebuhayi specializes in designing impactful community-oriented projects, such
03:29as schools, hospitals and public spaces, all with a focus on sustainability and human dignity.
03:36One of his most important projects is the maternity waiting village in Malawi. Here, architecture
03:42solves specific cultural needs by providing a safe place for expectant mothers. But what
03:48exactly makes this project so valuable?
03:50is it possible?
03:51Pregnancy is not a sickness. These mothers are moving from their homes to come to another
04:00home. They are not coming to the hospital. They are not being hospitalized because they
04:03are not sick. So they come to this home, they wait. It's as if you were to stay in your home,
04:09right? I remember, like, two years after the project was completed, I went back there. They
04:14were in these courtyards, dancing their traditional songs. You know, the vibes were much more positive.
04:25For Jean-Paul Sebuhayi, impactful architecture goes hand-in-hand with environmental responsibility,
04:31precisely because construction contributes significantly to carbon emissions.
04:37Close to 40% of the carbon emitted comes from the construction industry. So these shiny buildings
04:46we see, these shiny buildings we create, we are creating something looking nice on one
04:52hand, and on the other hand, we are destroying our future. Who's going to live in those buildings
04:57when this planet will no longer have a life?
05:01That's why he integrates sustainable practices into all projects, starting with the designs to be
05:06planned as low impact. For example, at the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture,
05:12care was taken to power the campus with solar energy, collect rainwater and recycle wastewater.
05:19The buildings are strategically positioned so that they are naturally ventilated, which reduces
05:25mechanical cooling and saves energy. Attention has also been paid to soil conservation in the design
05:32of the landscape, reflecting a commitment to sustainable agriculture.
05:38Honestly, if the work I do wasn't solving problems that my people go through, I should be somewhere else.
05:45Maybe I should have gone back and become a priest, serve another purpose in life.
05:55Despite his initial skepticism about the effectiveness of architecture,
05:59Jean-Paul Cebuahi is now convinced that it is the right tool for change.
06:04From his office in Kigali, Rwanda, he effectively combines his practical knowledge
06:09with innovative building solutions. Each of his projects reflects his commitment
06:14to shape the future as an architect.