Kaira Looro is a non profit initiative organised by Balouo Salo. The name is made up of words in the Mandinka language, a very common ethnic group in Senegal, Gambia, Guinea, and Mali. The meaning of the words is “build peace” or “architecture for peace”, which does not relate merely to “creating architecture”, but also to a state of mind and an approach aimed at building a solidarity-based environment in which peace reigns. A sentiment that materialises through architecture.
The initiative was established with the objective of raising awareness in the international scientific community regarding the topics of emergency and humanitarian aid, while at the same time raising funds for the development of humanitarian projects. The objective of the competition is also to discover and launch young talented architects into the international landscape, giving them visibility through the competition’s communications channels and an opportunity for professional growth through prizes, publications, and internships in prominent firms. As an initiative that is connected to the topics of development and humanitarian aid, the competition promotes an environmentally friendly and sustainable approach. This incentivises research into simple technologies that are capable of providing a tangible answer to climate change, making use of local materials and principles of self-construction.
The first edition of Kaira Looro was organised in 2016 with a workshop, which subsequently became a competition which is held to this day. Kaira Looro enjoys the support of high calibre international architectural firms and prominent institutions which share the values and themes of the competition and participate in the selection and realisation of the projects. Kengo Kuma has been president of the jury since 2017 and in 2020 was named an honorary member of Balouo Salo.