Sarbale Ke, "House of Celebration" in the Moore language of Burkina Faso, is an installation created for the 2019 Coachella Music and Arts Festival. Inspired by the arbre a palabres (palaver tree), Saroale Ke explores its inner world. As the tree grows, its inside hollows and skylights develop throughout the central trunk. In West Africa, it is deeply valued as a community landmark and revered for its medicinal and nutritional uses. The installation features 12 palaver tree towers, reflecting the material, texture, and spatial layout of the architecture in Kere's birthplace, Gando, Burkina Faso. Forming the installation's center, the 3 tallest palaver trees mark Sarbale Ke's largest gathering space. Here, at the heart of the compound, visitors can flow through the trunks from all directions. The towers' light-filled, naturally ventilated, and shaded interiors evoke the wonder of daylight in the heart of a palaver tree while responding to the immediate need for shade in Indio's spring climate. The 3 adjoining central towers are surrounded by another set of 3 towers, rotating clockwise from the installation's center. Around the installation's periphery, a group of 6 smaller towers provide more intimate gathering spaces. During the day, their radial design allows rays of light to filter into each structure. As the sun sets, the palaver tree towers are illuminated from within, transforming them into a functional light source that brightens the festival grounds through the night.
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