Spirits Out Of Trees: Francis Kéré, Gando/Montana

Spirits out of Trees traces the interwoven stories of two designs by the Berlin-based Burkinabé-German architect Francis Kéré. Xylem is a pavilion nestled among the trees of the Tippet Rise Art Center in Fishtail, Montana, USA. The Naaba Belem Goumma Secondary School was built for Kéré’s birthplace, Gando, in Burkina Faso. Geography, climate, and surrounding culture distinguish the two structures; yet, they are united by an underlying philosophy: to create architectures that serve as places of encounter, learning, and care.

The book illustrates how trees—both literally and figuratively—shape Kéré’s architectural language. Xylem achieves this through the spiritual and structural power of trees, offering a space for quiet communion and respite from the heat. The Naaba Belem Goumma Secondary School was designed using locally sourced clay and timber, creating a living, breathing educational environment for the community.

Spirits out of Trees combines architectural documentation and photography with personal essays and poetry. It also pays tribute to the enduring metaphor of the tree as a source of shelter and a symbol of regeneration.