Ah, hello, what, you know, just 0. These are the headlines this. Our explosions have been reported in the syrian port city of time. For media says Israel Attacked targets in the area, and these we intercepted by syrian offenses series and military says, 3 soldiers have been killed, funerals are being held for some of the 41 People Killed in a church fire in the egyptian city of gazer, thousands of people were in the building at the time with many children among the victims. An electrical fault is suspected as the cold celebrations are being held across india, mock 75 years of independence. These alive pictures of Prime Minister rendered moody addressing the nation from the historic read forth a new tele have in the middle east with more. 7 been many government initiatives to celebrate this milestone. For example, a museums have not been charging an entry free for some weeks. The government also announced the booster doses against covert 19 for 75. 00 days. Now there is a Signature Campaign by the government. It is encouraging people to buy and hoist the try carlo, and that campaign has been received very well in shops, offices, holmes people have been hoisting the national flags, rescue work is searching for people trapped to under rabo laughter. A blast ripped through a market in the manian capital yerevan. At least 3 people were killed in dozens injured. And North Koreans day, maybe it says, rushing president Vladimir Putin is planning to expand times between moscow and p on yang. That reportedly wrote to north korea, kim, joan own that a closer relationship would be in both countries. Interests. The 2 Ladies Exchange letters on the 77th anniversary of the korean peninsula. His liberation from the japanese rule. In july, north korea became the 3rd country in the world to recognize the independence of 2 russian banks and breakaway areas in eastern ukraine. All right, there is the headline time emily angland states you now for talk to al jazeera, i each and every one of us have a lot of responsibility to change our personal space for the better. The more we could do this experiment, many of us could increase just a little bit that would be worth doing. Anybody had any idea that it would become a magnet who is incredibly rest. Theyre asking women to get 50 percent representation in the same stitcher. In december, the year in getting this pick up the collect, the segregate, to say the reason this is extremely Important Service they provide the city we need to take america to try to bring people together trying to deal with people who left behind the architecture as defined as the art and technique of designing and building, and the words of one of the greatest architects of all time, antonio of the nothing has art. If it doesnt come from nature. Frances cortez spend most of his childhood days trying to secure food and water alongside his Rural Community and working offense. So he was born in 1965 and grew up with no clean water or electricity. Yet he was inspired by the limited Natural Resources that most people around him had taken for granted. Leading him on a journey that will make him one of the worlds most renowned architects. The mud bricks struck roots and wouldnt structures correct, grew up with help them develop his exceptional ability to design and create a snacks. Francis korea was a 1st person from a village of condo to attend school, where he understood not only the importance of education, but the impact of physical space on students. At the age of 20 career, went to germany unable creational carpentry, color ship learning to make roof and furniture while attending secondary school. He was eventually awarded a scholarship at a university in berlin, graduating in 2004 with an advanced degree in architecture. The birth of the architect understood how privileged he was and was eager to share his experiences with his Community Back home. His 1st project Gondo Primary School was hand crafted with local materials by the whole community. Just like in the old days. But caressed talent expanded beyond schools and local communities. His famous designs have popped up for me was due to puerto novo and beyond the african continent. To denmark, germany, italy, switzerland, united kingdom, and the united states. This year re became the 1st african and the 1st black person to win the most prestigious award in architecture. The prince could prize. Its given to those whose work demonstrates a combination of talent, vision, and commitment, along with a significant contribution to humanity. We prescribe prize winner architect frances career talks to al jazeera, what i Award Winning architect frontier. Carrie, thank you for talking to al jazeera. Congratulations on your award. You join and elite club vision reeves, did you ever imagine youd be in this position . Thank you for the congrats. No, not at all. Never in my dream. Ever. Dream to see must health in these group of very high quality professionals. No, no, i never dream about it. Never. So i feel like, wow, do you come from a family of designers . I mean, where does your flash architecture and design come from . No, i have no Family Member connected to architecture. Neither design. No. Im coming from sanity, lets say a farming family ah, in africa in burkina faso, esa kits a have been going through architecture, lets say basically scott classroom that was so dark on hot. So i grew up in dirt. Oh that one day, if i have a chance to do designing, i will make things better for people. And this is where really the force of my imagination is coming from. You touched on your early schooling, just give us an idea of what your schooling was like, because you were the eldest son. I believe all of the local you might say village chief or community. And that had in itself some sort of status. But in turn, over the years hes managed to influence many young people from your community, but what was school life really like the how difficult was it . How when i was a child, there was no clean Drinking Water um and a village there was no electricity. And there was no school. So for this reason, my father, i wanted me to learn how to write an, an, an, an unread in that way he sent me away from the village. So as a kit, a had to live, to leave my village, my parents, my community to be able to learn how to ride on rate. And so this is my child would and then are being forced to leave. So early i was living in there component of a relative. Um and then i was attending school and d school. It was dark, very hot inside. And we were about one over 100 kids sitting next to each other. Can you imagine like sitting in a bench or a chair, and if you just move like days, names are coming out to night, that are a, you know, there to fix. The shared together will, will also make a hole in your bob. And so this is how i grew up on that. Think in my self, i grew the ed year and the ambition that one day, if i have a chance, i should make better places for kids to stay and, and learn how to read on. Right. And not to sit in the classroom like i experience as a kit that those early years of being in the school room. Those issues of light and ventilation, obviously lingered with you for a very long time. So when was the, you might say the light bulb moment when you realized, ah, being an architect is something that would benefit me and could help my community. When did you realize that im in, i realize that being an architect can help my community a little bit later when our graphs are scholarship to come to germany and to be food at turned train esa carpenter because i at the school. Oh, ive got another scholarship in book, you know, fossil to be trained as a carpenter. And so, ah, the child would was a, i saw the impact of light. And then i saw in the darkness when we were sitting. And there was just a glimpse light and, and we are surrounding sitting on does light to listen to a story off the ground matter by den, or being a carpenter later, i want to know how to lay a breaks so that i can create comfortable classrooms, myself and so this is the story of how as tucked to become architect. And then as an architect, i recall all of these memory of my child would, how light will entering a dark place and just change how these place will be on also ventilation. I was sitting in places where there were so hot, you know, more than you will be able to, to learn to causal. Great to be focus. So i want to change all of these. Indeed, i really love how light impact people live in the room. And that also i would cite architecture in the designs that youth accomplish, certainly on the continent have been practical, useful, and incredibly important in communities that dont have the money to actually build. You might say, the type of establishment that we would assume are schools in western culture. How important has it been to make sure that using local supplies and local manpower empowers the community to be proud of what they have produced through your design. First of all, to make it short, i am convinced that able to one deserve comfort every one, not just doors that can afford, and i in my community couldnt effort. So thats why i needed to grow ideas. How i can create architecture that respond to the climate conditions, the social economic conditions, and then also thinking about material. So i came across getting into community, be part of it. And so these being, it have to save resources, or lets say its, it helped me to do more with less create a bigger space, a very complex fracture, very high quality structure for my people. Introducing less resources by the team. That indeed is to create a sort of identity paper was part of the process and i feel proud about what happened. So if you could see these as like a Game Changing method, then i did it. It was so important to do it because i was totally convinced that i was privileged. I was privileged because i could attend education and i could go to germany and become architect. And for me, what do you do with this privilege . I want to use it for the source, for the benefit of my community. And now i am the i am there where i am today, and it to bring the community on board is very important across the continent. But working in africa cannot be easy because you have different locations. There is civil war, theres political instability, Climate Change issues, a variety of armed groups, in some places. How carefully do you have to assess the project youre working on . And you might say the agreement with Regional National authorities to actually produce the types of buildings that would benefit the community. Is it a difficult process to negotiate that with various political ah, bodies . Indeed, the thing is, you know, we cannot say that our word is safe to day. And so i think even with everything that we know about it, it is important to keep creating every one should contribute to create the better word a me as architecture, coming from brooklyn, of fossil in a very rich from a reverted remote village, with all of the problems that we know, scar, city, instability, i want to contribute because this my community, it is my country. If i say its travel is not working, that is notting. Who will do it . Honestly for me . No one, let be clear. So, beside the conflict, africa is going true. We need to have young people from these continent who would take studiously all their salingers and transform it to something that benefit the communities. This is the only way i think we will create. This is the neighbor um choose the neighbor conditions of leaving into continent these as i am totally convinced about it and me as architect. It was for me clear. I have to use the i the label material, but also in the very smart way to quit spaces that are inspiring to, for my community, for the country. And that is what i could do. This is how we should just consider working into continent, but not to be afraid about all of these strata. This is, if you did with it, that how you will grow and you make the difference. And that what i have done without knowing that i was doing something that will have him a big impact. And of course you managed to solve that problem of making the School Environment in the School Experience a very enriching one full, many children on the african continent. You see africa as an opportunity to progress the issue and the beauty of architecture. Why do you think that the west itself sometimes sees africa as more of a problem that actually seeing it as actually an opportunity to not totally and honestly, africa is a big b opportunity. That is a lot that we cant do that and its, yeah, its a pity that the western were see, its in the conflict and rather than in, in some and something that can contribute to, to the world, to the wealth of the word africa. Its young. Let me say these way and in a cedar continent. So the way that talent is equally distributed around the world. What is missing often is opportunities. And if to give these young people opportunities, then you will see that africa is up a basin of talent that can contribute to the growth of the were wet and rather than to seat as a problem. As c, s a big opportunity, you know, people are so open to new things, people are so positive, optimistic look at the youth, how full of energy there are. If we consider these s being something that is positive, then africa count can contribute to create better architecture for our people, but also inspiring architecture for the rest of the world. In terms of, of some of your projects, i just like to focus in a wan, which is actually it was in the u. K, the serpentine pavilion in the u. K. Its one of my studying bits of architecture ive seen and has a, has a really interesting, i think, story behind it for our viewers. I mean, not all your design is about the educational experience. Its about the communication experience as well. Absolutely. No, im the serpent pans. Pavilion still ring among my project is sir, at, by the way, its going to be a library. Ah, and then a museum in quite a number. It is a now its permanently installed there. No, with this project, what i want to tell to my work and especially the serpent pavilion is to so the read narrative on africa. It is a place where you can learn a lot from nature, but also how people can go to daily life, which scarcity, and just accept it. And so at. And one thing that is important for me is like a tree. And so in london, i just wanted to create inside this beautiful park, hyde park, a kind of huge cannot be a tree, but not just mimicking latree, but creating a design idea how you can collect water tree needs water. London is very rich, but why i dont showed to the people in london that even a wealthy, a rich country should save energy, should save resources by creating a pavilion that has the capacity to collect water. So my approach sometime is playfully batch, then he has a narrative. If you show people ways how architecture can, can do more beside the functional issues, then we either a higher value to architecture and that what im trying to do always yep. What is the reaction to your designs from your fellow Architect Community where they are able to see the practicality of Something Like a school that you you built in 2017 helped to bill la lacy scores. Secondary school and became a fast so, you know, an amazing structure which was simple to construct but yes, has attracted children from far and wide to come and study there yet. Is it, it is another school project, but again, built by the community for the community. I have to say again, i mean, i was lucky to be able to do this project. I dont know how, id argue to think about it. But you know, if you like me coming from dc background, that is more than just a privilege and you cray it in your own Community School with in the community and with the community. And you see the reaction, the positive reaction of your people, you know, sometimes the men from daniel with, respectfully demand from gand that is demand from a gamble. You know, its mean, wow, hed be something that is extra ordinary. And so i am just so happy about it. I can just say, i feel i being digging into darkness. I felt light. That is even minute in many, many other people. This is what i can say. And that is true, you know, and i want to have more opportunities around the world to give and create something that is responding to people. What im doing, winning the print surprise, does actually elevate you into a group of very distinguished architects, but also raises the profile as, as we know, as being the 1st african to actually win the prize. And highlight the fact that when we think of high art or high architecture, we dont have to look to the west. Do you think people now have to re look at the way african artists and architects are perceived in western culture. Those, those, the Glass Ceiling has been broken. Im happy if i could contribute to that and very happy i went to say, colonial architecture has something that we have to say. Something very strong. If you look at it has lot of qualities. What is missing to my knee . What are, what are see to how i see things it, we have been given a structure, but not the brain which has had an object but not to knowledge how to do it. And so for a long time, these kind of structure is good, it is strong, but it, it didnt really consider or taking truly under account or local knowledge or local conditions, especially the social conditions. How do you really integrate all of these to create a building that become an added and into vacation for people . And so lets say they have been great project, but the narrative has being give to object, but not the way how people should do it themselves. And that is the thing that i miss, but if i can like me and try to deal with the reality of the site ah, of people and create something that is being seen by many as a game changer. Hey, you know, im so happy and lucky to be able to contribute before you won the pritzky. And how difficult was it to you might say pitch the idea or sell the idea that this will work. And it will make a difference whether it be a classroom or a library, or Housing Development or, or, or a structure in a, in a major park. Before you big wooden. This award life must have been slightly difficult because architecture is a, is a difficult industry to, to pitch and to be successful in hub being doing does work. And since i was a student, the truth is really when i got a chance to start to study in germany, i decided after 2 years studying it must be something compare to bachelor level or even less. I decided to stop to study by then to do research around berlin and brandenburg, which is the, the state around berlin to learn our technique, how buildings have been done before the industrial era which make europe becoming the leading force in the world. You know, so i went back to my home to tree really tried to find a yes, how i can create something that is like different to what i knew in the west, but also in book enough answer. So i didnt sit on the desk and imagine to really come with the prototype that will make the big difference. But i try to go through a process to study and it was a struggle to do that because 1st he was student. And then you get a neglected people, just say, you know, you are too young to do that and i didnt have my reality. So i keep pushing. And at the end of the day, i faced the reality that out there was no fun. There was no resources to do that. So what i did is to create a Little Foundation today. It still exists at that time it called an sure about 9 of the gander a fall which a german, a means an association of a sort of 4 brick stone for the school in gondo. Now we call it Katie Foundation because with the awareness on my work and friends wanted to connect the Association Name with my architect our success. So that in the beginning he was now light days. It was very, very difficult to convince in bull keena community, but also in the west, people were shock. Why u. S. A student, are you going to build a school and not a government . Oh, no powerful european institution. Why you, why you, why me, it is my responsibility for my community and being aware that i have a community and i want to contribute when i didnt needed to wait to become noun or to become rich to do that is what you need to force. And the energy to sustain and to go through all the difficult moment. And im telling you, i am so happy that i took this decision. If and now youve student that how, how i have been call at the beginning in the west, in germany. Hes naive or but his graduate you know, i just went to do it and i was the best decision in my life. Some of the most unassuming people when major awards, whether its a nobel peace prize, or whether in your case its the print. Sco is, is being recognised by a western award system, slightly annoying that its taken the award for you to be perhaps better known to a wider audience and that you couldnt have been recognised it on the Global Community even without the award. The the award is certainly highlighted who you are. Would you like to have been highlighted without the award before . Youve got it. What i had been doing. It was like, i did it because i feel i had a duty to my people and i loved my people, my community, that is what every one day everyone is connected to a community. And then i was just one or 2 had to be honest, ive even thought about award by doing these. By the way, when i 1st bid a preschool, i didnt want to end my study because i never expect someone to hire me as an architect. I want to Gain Knowledge to go back to tina and start to, to improve architecture. I have to say what pisca has awarded me is courage. And then recombination of what i have been doing, which is so great. And then, ah, the impact is visible, more people know me nowadays than will not see me without the price. And then the good thing is now many, many young people in africa now they dont need to wait to become politician or to become a general with a lot of weapon and go and take over a power to have visibility. But they cant dig into dirt like are being doing again. Were visibility that are what i did. And then i would me have helped me in or does way. So it brings me neatly really to my final question, mr. Kara e. We have an active and a vibrant audience that watch al jazeera and you have an opportunity now to perhaps give advice to a generation of young and suzy aspect africans who might not have the means or the opportunity or the finances to achieve what they want to achieve right here, right now, whats your advice to them wanting that i can say is that is important to believe in yourself, really in yourself. You may be as a young man, a younger you may be dealing and a topic where its difficult to you. But the only thing you need to know it is you have to believe in yourself and, and to believe in that. What are you doing at because it put totally a new feeder. No one knows about it. I start to build schools out of mud and now its here. Im talking to. Ready bigger audience, that is an aspect in what are you doing that the word needs. Its not being seen yet and, and you, which has come out with something that no. Ready one knew before, that would make a big difference, then you will be very successful. Is what i will give to. Everyone is on out of ice. Frances cara. He 2022, prince sca architecture prize winner. Thank you for joining us on talk to al jazeera. Thank you very much. Thank you. What is life line in maximum security prison . In this to pot, special report, one i one ace goes behind, bought it singapore, chunky prison. On al jazeera old news from the shoals of the red sea storage. A clean more tact is a global problem and pull management the major. But in jordan this team, a fema Climate Change it to the peaks of the himalayas where Water Conservation looks like this dazzling solutions to cite the worlds most precious resource. In the next episode of ath right, we look at what is being done. December was quite a twice on al jazeera ah al jazeera ah, with the Syrian Military says, israel has attacked the port city of tar to southside, damascus said these 3 soldiers have been killed