Barcelona, 1972
Master’s degree in Architecture and Diploma in Building Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC). After an initial professional stage in Spain, he moved to Burkina Faso in 2010 and to Côte d’Ivoire in 2021, consolidating over fifteen years of professional experience in West Africa. His work has always been linked to improving living and working conditions through architecture. His practice integrates design and construction with a sustainable approach, based on the use of local materials and passive bioclimatic solutions.
His professional experience spans residential, commercial, and office buildings, as well as schools, health centers, social integration spaces, and heritage conservation projects. Each project generates tangible impact through durable, comfortable, and easy-to-maintain infrastructure. His architecture combines technical rigor, cultural sensitivity, and innovation, demonstrating that it is possible to deliver high-quality spaces adapted to each context, respecting local construction traditions and proposing creative, replicable solutions for different types of clients and environments.
Of European origin, Faus promotes a knowledge exchange “from north to south and from south to north.” He combines local materials and archetypes with technical construction systems. His architecture reflects a cultural and constructive blend, integrating tradition and technology, and generating contextualized, innovative, and site-specific solutions.
In recent years, his work has expanded to collaboration projects with public administrations and consulting for international organizations. In Burkina Faso, he worked with the Ministry of Environment and Green Economy on the design of community facilities, applying local materials and bioclimatic strategies to maximize sustainability and comfort. In Côte d’Ivoire, for the Government and the World Bank, he led a strategic study to strengthen the resilience and sustainability of public facilities in the northern part of the country.
His work has been recognized with prestigious awards and distinctions at national and international levels, including the Innovation Award from the Architects’ Association of Catalonia (2015), the 1st Opinion Prize at the FAD International Architecture Awards (2017), and the Special Mention at the ARQUIA/PRÓXIMA Awards (2022). His projects have been featured in specialized media and international platforms and have been part of significant exhibitions such as Atlas of the Unbuilt World (Bartlett School of Architecture, London, 2013), PerDurar (Granollers Museum, 2019), Los nuevos realistas (Disseny Hub, Barcelona, 2023), and Arquitectura es Cooperación (Casa de la Arquitectura, Madrid, 2025). This reflects his commitment to humanitarian architecture and cultural preservation.
In addition, Albert Faus has developed an active role in teaching and knowledge sharing, sharing his experience in architecture schools in Africa, Europe, and North America, and leading practical workshops on sustainable architecture in contexts such as Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire or Mauritania, contributing to the dissemination of adapted methodologies and the training of professionals and local communities.
AWARDS AND COMPETITIONS
• Special Mention from the Jury of the ARQUIA Awards Fundación Caja de Arquitectos 2022. SECONDARY SCHOOL AND AUXILIARY BUILDINGS OF THE BANGRE VEENEM SCHOOL COMPLEX.
• 1st Prize for the "Recruitment of a consultant in charge of the elaboration of construction plans for Forestry Control Post and the Provincial Directorate of Yagha", AGREF Programme of the Ministry of Environment, Green Economy and Climate Change of Burkina Faso (2020).
• Finalist firm in the HUMANITARIAN ARCHITECTURE category, A+Firms Award Architizer 2020.
• Winning Project in Architectural Design/Educational Architecture, The Architectural Masterprize 2020: SECONDARY SCHOOL AND AUXILIARY BUILDINGS OF THE BANGRE VEENEM SCHOOL COMPLEX.
• Finalist at FAD International Architecture Award 2020: SECONDARY SCHOOL AND AUXILIARY BUILDINGS OF THE BANGRE VEENEM SCHOOL COMPLEX.
• Winning Project in Architectural Design/Residential Architecture, The Architectural Masterprize 2018: HOME FOR ORPHANED CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.
• Honourable Mention in Architectural Design/Educational Buildings, The Architectural Masterprize 2018: WOMEN'S TRAINING CENTRE IN BOASSA.
• Finalist at FAD International Architecture Award 2018: WOMEN'S TRAINING CENTRE IN BOASSA.
• Opinion Award in the FAD International Architecture Award 2017: MATERNITY CLINIC, REFURBISHMENT AND ENLARGEMENT.
• 2nd Prize in the Recruitment for the construction of a primary school in Mauritania, for the PECOBAT Project, financed by European Union funds and implemented by the International Labour Organisation (2018).
• Highlighted project in the 2nd CATALAN INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECTURE EXHIBIT organised by the Professional Association of Architects of Catalonia (2017): HOUSE FOR ORPHANED CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.
• Highlighted project in the 2nd CATALAN INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECTURE EXHIBIT organised by the Professional Association of Architects of Catalonia (2017): KATIOU LIBRARY.
• 1st Prize for the "Recruitment of a consultant for the construction of the Roumdé Production Units, FAFASO GIZ (German Cooperation)”, with Giovanni Quattrocolo Architecture (2017).
• Shortlisted at FAD International Architecture Award 2016: HOUSE FOR ORPHANED CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.
• 3rd Prize for the "Recruitment of an architectural firm to carry out studies for the construction of a Tourism and Hospitality Training Centre (CFTH) in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, in the PEJDC project, financed by the World Bank and the Ministry of Youth, Vocational Training and Employment of Burkina Faso (2016).
• Shortlisted at FAD International Architecture Award 2015: KATIOU LIBRARY.
• 1st Prize for INNOVATION in the 1st CATALAN INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECTURE EXHIBIT organised by Professional Association of Architects of Catalonia (2015).
• Highlighted project in the 1st CATALAN INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECTURE EXHIBIT organised by the Professional Association of Architects of Catalonia (2015): LAAFI NURSERY SCHOOL.
• Highlighted project in the 1st CATALAN INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECTURE EXHIBIT organised by the Professional Association of Architects of Catalonia (2015): CENTRE FOR EDUCATIONAL, PROFESSIONAL AND SPORTS INTEGRATION IN RIMKIETA.
Much of this work has appeared in international magazines such as CASABELLA, ARQUITECTURA VIVA, AMC, ARQUINE, ON DISEÑO, etc... and has even been exhibited in the Museum of Finnish Architecture (Helsinki, 2013), in the Leopoldo Rother Museum of Architecture (Bogotá, 2013), in the Museum of Granollers (Barcelona, 2019) or in the international exhibition ATLAS OF THE UNBUILT WORLD organised by the BRITISH COUNCIL for the LONDON FESTIVAL OF ARCHITECTURE in the BARTLETT SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE (London, 2013).
TEACHING AND COMUNICATION
• Postgraduate in Sustainable Architecture – Architects’ Association of Catalonia, February 2025. Decolonizing Architecture.
• Haute École d’Ingénierie et d’Architecture – Fribourg, October 2023. Primary Elements.
• Valencia School of Architecture (UPV) _ Valencia, July 2022.
Building cooperation
• Abidjan School of Architecture (EAA) _ Abidjan, May 2022.
Ten years of architecture in Burkina Faso. 2010-2020
• School of Architecture (EAR) _ Reus, February 2022.
From the vernacular to the technological
• The School of Architecture of La Salle (ETSALS) _ Barcelona, October 2021.
Inhabit Burkina Faso
• Tulane University _ New Orleans, October 2021.
Living Burkina
• The traditional techniques in building contemporary architecture _ Banyoles (Girona), September 2021.
From Vernacular to Technology
• Catalonian Association of Architects _ Delegation of Lleida, May 2021.
The Allou-Sana dwelling in Tangassogo
• Aarhus School of Architecture . Aarhus, March 2021.
From Vernacular to Technology
• Catalonian Association of Architects _ Vic, March 2021.
Per Durar, Tangassogo. Burkina Faso
• Roca Gallery.com _ March 2021.
The boundary between the past and present
• A Converse Anidar _ ARQA, December 2020
• Architecture and Design Week _ Pollença (Mallorca), August 2020.
Ten years of architecture in Burkina Faso. 2010-2020
• Andorra Association of Architects. Andorra la Vella, May 2019.
Low-Tech/ Low-Cost projects in Burkina Faso
• Polytechnic School of the University of Alicante (EPSUA) _ Alicante, May 2019
Lessons learned in Africa: 4 projects in Burkina Faso
• International Labour Office (BIT) . Nouakchott, May 2018.
Introduction to the conception of upper metal roofs for earth buildings
• Madrid Association of Architects _ Madrid, February 2017.
Africa and the future of architecture
• Congress of Architects at the Catalonian Association of Architects _ Barcelona, October 2016.
Building Cooperation
• Monography on the architecture platform TRANSFERRING Global Architecture _ February 2015
Architectures and construction processus in Burkina Faso
• Beyond Building Barcelona Construmat _ Barcelona, May 2015
Director of International Cooperation Corner Construmat
• Agora Construmat _ Barcelona, May 2015
Architecture and International Cooperation
• Bartlett School of Architecture _ London, May 2013.
Atlas of the unbuilt world, London festival of Architecture
• International University of Catalonia (UIC) _ Barcelona, February 2013.
Training and Apiculture Research Center in Mangodara
• Technical School of Architecture of Barcelona (ETSAB) _ Barcelona, February 2013.
Burkina Faso: A New Way
• Barcelona Building Engineers Association _ Barcelona, March 2012
The construction of cooperation, cooperation in construction
