Changing Narratives: MASS Design Group’s Noella Nibakuze on Pioneering Paths and Shaping a Rwandan Architecture
By Amy Stone
Noella Nibakuze is a Design Director in the MASS Kigali Studio, leading architectural design, construction administration, building technology, and sustainability. A registered architect who joined MASS in 2017, Noella has a deep commitment to projects and partners that have a positive impact on the communities that they serve. She works to improve people’s lives through built environments that promote sustainability and justice. At MASS, Noella is currently leading the the Lagos Infectious Disease Research Institute (IDRI), a project with a mission to prevent the next pandemic by maximizing resiliency and minimizing vulnerability to infectious pathogens, such as the pandemic flu, by creating a multi-functional Infectious Diseases Research Institute.
In her interview with Amy Stone, Noella shares her unique path and discusses her mission to change a country’s narrative around architecture, advising those just starting their careers to embrace the challenge and to have confidence in their ability to solve complex challenges.
AS: Tell me your story. How did your interest in architecture first develop?
NN: Building has always been a part of my life. My father was a sculptor and, later, a contractor. As a young girl, I remember going to his workshop after school and, even though his job seemed stressful to me, I was drawn to construction. In high school, I loved mathematics and physics, and had a passion for drawing. I would always make cards for friends, for birthdays, and other things. But when I graduated high school, there was no school of architecture in the country. The closest field to what I wanted to study was engineering. Architecture was not a profession that was known in Rwanda at the time. In fact, there may not even be a word for ‘architect’ in Kinyarwanda.
First year dorm connection to upper years dorm. Credit: Iwan Baan
Second and third year students dorm at RICA. Credit: Iwan Baan
Without any architecture programs in Rwanda, what was your path to get into a program? What you learned about yourself in the process? I imagine this was a very unique path for you.
I decided to go to South Africa to study architecture. This was my first time on a plane and my first time out of the country. It was exciting and daunting!
Growing up, we spoke Kinyarwanda and French. English was new to me. So, not only did I have to keep up with demanding studio classes, I had to catch up on my English and adapt to a new country and to a different culture.
I was also adapting to being a black woman in South Africa. It wasn’t until I left Rwanda that, in some ways, I realized I was black for the first time. Being black in South Africa, a country that was just a decade out of apartheid and still experiencing the lingering effects of that legacy, was different than being black at home, even at the level of representation. In my first architecture class of one hundred students, eight were black, and only two of us were black women. And so, architecture, which was already a competitive field, seemed especially out of reach for people like me.
Seeing a lot of students quit in their first year made me question if I was up to the challenge. In the end, I learned that I could be resilient and persevering. I came to appreciate architecture even more for how it challenged me to leave my comfort zone.
That you loved it more because it was so challenging is something I think a lot of architects and students can relate to. What about that experience made you want to persevere and push to the finish line?
My family really encouraged me. I could not have done this without their support. The Rwandan community in South Africa was also a big support, especially since I was learning something that was not present back home.
I knew that if I wanted to be an architect and bring these skills home to my community in Rwanda, I had to push and persevere to finish my degree. Plus, I knew I could do it! If other people could do it, why not me? I wanted to disrupt the unspoken expectation that a black woman studying architecture would fail. I was determined to prove to myself and to those who would come after me that it was possible.
“‘International architecture’ is often seen as being more modern and more beautiful. This was another narrative I wanted to change. I wanted to show that it was possible to build something beautiful with local resources while being mindful of the greater impact of construction on the environment. ”
What were your next steps after school?
After school, wanting to gain some experience that I could take home, I stayed and worked in South Africa for about 3 years. When I moved back to Rwanda, I dreamed of starting my own firm but quickly realized that I needed more experience. I did not know how to manage an office, run finances, or develop a network and knew little of the mechanics of architecture you don’t learn in school. And so I joined a firm where I mostly worked on high-end residential, hotels, and educational projects .
Working at different architecture firms, I came to see that our architectural sensibility tended to be dominated by ‘international architecture’ which is often seen as being more modern and more beautiful. This was another narrative I wanted to change. I wanted to show that it was possible to build something beautiful with local resources while being mindful of the greater impact of construction on the environment.
My early work experience focused my goals: I knew that I wanted to contribute to shaping a Rwandan architecture that is deeply rooted in people, place, materials, and culture.
I then learned of this group of architects who shared the same ideals, and that is how I came to join MASS five years ago, in 2017. It has been quite an experience. We have a dynamic office in Kigali with about a hundred people, nearly half of whom are women. I have been lucky to work on meaningful projects and learn various aspects of design and construction in a collaborative, hands-on environment.
Have you been involved in your community like you aspired to do?
Yes! It’s been a joy. The Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA) project is one where I have been extensively immersed in the local community. When we began, five years ago, I led the immersion process which began with getting to know the community around Gashora and Rweru districts, where RICA is located. We wanted the community to be an integral part of the building process, and so, we spent time a lot of time on engagemnt. We developed a richer understanding of what resources were available to us, mainly people’s expertise and building materials. As a result, 95% of the 1,700 person labor force was hired locally.
A personal highlight was getting to live around Gashora during the construction phase. Watching the project come alive in real time while working closely with my team and with the community I came to know during immersion, was an enriching experience. Outside of projects, speaking and teaching engagements within the Rwanda Institute of Architects (RIA), and the School of Architecture and Built environment (SABE) have been opportunities to shape the field more broadly and be part of its development.
Students walking through the Campus Center building. Credit: Iwan Baan
MASS Women group at the office. Credit: MASS Design Group
What have been some of your biggest challenges in your career?
When I moved back to Rwanda, I was among the first 50 nationally-certified architects. The relative obscurity of my field meant that the value of architecture was not fully understood. How do you explain the significance of architecture to someone who doesn’t know what architecture is?
Even today, architecture remains a budding profession in Rwanda, with about 150 registered architects, roughly 10% of them women. Being one of the few women in the field made it hard to find peer community. Good, male mentors were helpful but I craved women mentors whom I believed would have a ready understanding of my experiences and be a guide for what was to come.
I have come to experience this gap as a call to become a mentor myself. At MASS, I am proud to contribute to a women’s platform that lends our services to women-led communities and mentors architecture students and young professionals in the field.
On the flip side, what have been your biggest highlights so far?
At RICA, we designed a campus with the mission to invest in sustainable agriculture in Rwanda, which will be critical to Rwanda’s future, as most Rwandans still depend on subsistence agriculture. The campus has 69 unique buildings built on about 100 acres of the 3,750 acre site. The campus is projected to be the first climate-positive university in the world due to its design which utilizes 96% of materials (by weight) from Rwanda, a 1.5MW solar farm that produces 100% of RICA’s electricity, and by sourcing and treating all water on-site. In addition, it is designed with a ‘One Health’ approach that considers how human, animal, and ecosystem health are intertwined.
I was thrilled that the building materials at RICA were local, low-embodied carbon materials such as timber roof structure, rammed earth, and compressed stabilized earth block. The result is a comfortable, well-aerated building. When you walk in from the dry heat, you feel instantly cool.
Watching the first-year students move in was really exciting. As the project progressed, so did the school, and the following year we moved students into the beautifully designed second year dorms. It was amazing to be on site everyday and watch the campus come alive with students and faculty. Designing something and seeing it built and occupied is a consistent delight!
“Keep in mind that the world needs your talent. You are capable of solving some of the most difficult problems the world is facing right now. You have the power to be at the forefront of driving solutions and innovations and not just a spectator. ”
Who are you admiring now and why?
I was devastated to learn of the passing of Ugandan Architect Doreen Adengo. Doreen came to speak at a conference we held at MASS’ African Design Center in 2017. She spoke about her work, her firm, and also the challenges that came with being a female practitioner in Kampala. She was an inspiration!
I am always on the lookout for women architects in Africa who are leading the field. I also admire the young and upcoming architects, both women and men joining the profession. I am encouraged to see the field expanding.
What is the impact you want to have on the world?
I want to shape a Rwandan architecture that leverages local materials, craft, and labor to create buildings that are elegant, sustainable, and culture-informed. That architecture is a relatively young profession in Rwanda presents the opportunity to incorporate best practices from around the world: to source locally, to value home-grown solutions, to prioritize sustainability, and to always consider the socioeconomic footprint of our buildings.
Vegetable and Tree enterprise building at RICA. Credit: MASS Design Group
Noella at RICA site with her colleague Shakira Nyiratuza, RICA structural engineer. Credit: Alan Ricks
What do you wish you knew starting out that you know now?
I wish I knew the challenges I had in school, or early in my career, were only temporary. As a black woman in a foreign country, I was tempted to quit, not knowing if it was possible for me to succeed. The struggle was real, but also just a moment in time. Now, I can see how it was clearly worth it. I didn’t have to be so hard on myself.
What advice do you have for those who are starting out?
Embrace the challenge. Architecture can be challenging, particularly for women hoping to enter this male-dominated field. You may find yourself as one of the few women in the room or even the only one. You will have to face prejudices and judgment from people, your family, and perhaps even yourself. But, keep in mind that the world needs your talent. You are capable of solving some of the most difficult problems the world is facing right now. You have the power to be at the forefront of driving solutions and innovations and not just a spectator.
Strive to find a mentor as early as possible, someone who will advise and help you along the journey. When you succeed, pay it back. Be a mentor to others. Share your knowledge and experiences. Cheer for other girls and women in the field and help each other along the journey. It is in working together that you make the greatest impact.
As architects we have the mission to provide buildings that improve people's lives, while simultaneously preserving the environment. Buildings should reflect the places where they are built, and be welcoming and empowering for the people who use them.