Kéré at Coachella
John Hill
18. April 2019
Bad Bunny performing during the first weekend of Coachella, with Francis Kéré's Sarbalé Ke installation in the distance (Photo courtesy of Coachella)
Architect Francis Kéré — born in Burkina Faso and based in Berlin — may be an unlikely choice for Coachella, the popular music festival that takes place in the California desert near Palm Springs for two weekends every April, but his colorful installation stands out from the crowd this year.
Sarbalé Ke, which translates as "the house of celebration," was inspired by the Baobab tree, "the most important tree" in Kéré's native village of Gando, Burkina Faso. This inspiration echoes Kéré's design for the 2017 Serpentine Pavilion, which he analogized as a tree: a wooden canopy that created a sheltered space where people could gather for talks and other events.
At Coachella, the twelve towers — some reaching heights over 60 feet — attract people through their colorful patterns; "Naturally, you will walk toward it," Kéré said, just like a cluster of Baobab trees. And like the trees, the towers provide shade and cooling breezes, through their tapered forms and ventilated construction.
Coachella occupies the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, sprinkling its grounds with nearly a dozen art installations and experiences. (Photo courtesy of Coachella)
The profile of Sarbalé Ke's twelve towers echoes the mountains that surround Coachella Valley. (Photo courtesy of Coachella)
The towers are made of colored triangular panels in varied patterns. (Photo courtesy of Coachella)
The panels are spaced apart to allow breezes through the towers. (Photos courtesy of Coachella)
