MASS Design Group’s Kigali office is increasingly responsible for some of the world’s leading climate positive buildings and large scale developments. How might the methods of highly sustainable construction explored in these projects be a model for the unprecedented construction and urbanization we will see in coming decades - in Africa, the Global South, the West? To realize a more sustainable future, how might we begin to reconsider our approach to materiality, supply chains, labor forces, and the fundamentals of design practice?

This content was produced thanks to funding from the AIA California as part of the CarbonPositive Conference, a partnership between Architect Magazine and Architecture 2030.



Learning Objectives

  • Explore examples of compelling low carbon building design that vary by region, scale and use.
  • Identify highly sustainable materials and modes of construction that are appropriate to local climate and community.
  • Describe how inclusive design strategies can produce climate adapted buildings that buildings that minimize carbon in their construction and their operations.
  • Discuss how design strategies and material approach employed in projects from MASS Design Group’s work in Africa can be a scalable model for unprecedented construction and urbanization in the Global South over the next four decades.

Pre-Requisite: None.