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Goethe Institute in Dakar begins construction

news · February, 20th 2022

Dakar, February 22, 2022

Construction has begun on the Kéré Architecture-designed Goethe Institute in Dakar, Senegal. Federal President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier participated in the official groundbreaking ceremony, along with Abdoulaye Seydou Sow, Senegalese Minister of Town Planning and Public Hygiene, Abdoulaye Diop, Senegalese Minister of Culture and Communication, Carola Lentz, president of the Goethe Institut, and architect Francis Kéré.


The Goethe Institute is a German cultural association and exchange center that has been active globally for more than 60 years. For the first time in its history, the institute has commissioned an architect to design a purpose-built office space.


Frank-Walter Steinmeier: “I am optimistic that Africa and Europe together can face the great challenges of today. I am convinced that we can learn a lot from each other. We need ideas and experiences from our two continents. The new Goethe Institute will be a shining example of exactly that.”

Carola Lentz: “For years, the Goethe-Institut has been working with cultural workers, artists and experts at its locations around the world to deal with the climate crisis and its consequences. We can only develop and implement solutions to the urgent global challenges in a joint exchange. The new Goethe-Institut in Dakar is a milestone on this difficult but necessary path to a more sustainable world.”

Francis Kéré: “On numerous levels, the design represents the values that both I myself and the Goethe-Institut share. When it came to issues like sustainability and climate protection, I not only met with an open and sympathetic response but was even encouraged to take things further."

For further information on this project visit the Goethe Institute Dakar page on our website.


Dakar, February 22, 2022

Construction has begun on the Kéré Architecture-designed Goethe Institute in Dakar, Senegal. Federal President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier participated in the official groundbreaking ceremony, along with Abdoulaye Seydou Sow, Senegalese Minister of Town Planning and Public Hygiene, Abdoulaye Diop, Senegalese Minister of Culture and Communication, Carola Lentz, president of the Goethe Institut, and architect Francis Kéré.


The Goethe Institute is a German cultural association and exchange center that has been active globally for more than 60 years. For the first time in its history, the institute has commissioned an architect to design a purpose-built office space.


Frank-Walter Steinmeier: “I am optimistic that Africa and Europe together can face the great challenges of today. I am convinced that we can learn a lot from each other. We need ideas and experiences from our two continents. The new Goethe Institute will be a shining example of exactly that.”

Carola Lentz: “For years, the Goethe-Institut has been working with cultural workers, artists and experts at its locations around the world to deal with the climate crisis and its consequences. We can only develop and implement solutions to the urgent global challenges in a joint exchange. The new Goethe-Institut in Dakar is a milestone on this difficult but necessary path to a more sustainable world.”

Francis Kéré: “On numerous levels, the design represents the values that both I myself and the Goethe-Institut share. When it came to issues like sustainability and climate protection, I not only met with an open and sympathetic response but was even encouraged to take things further."

For further information on this project visit the Goethe Institute Dakar page on our website.


Francis Kéré, Abdoulaye Diop, Senegalese Minister of Culture and Communication, Abdoulaye Seydou Sow, Senegalese Minister of Town Planning and Public Hygiene and Federal President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Exterior view of Goethe Institute Senegal. Render by Kéré Architecture.