Rwanda: Noella Nibakuze
Born in Rwanda, Noella Nibakuze is design director at MASS Design Group in Kigali, Rwanda (2022–) where she previously worked as an associate (2017–2021). She holds both a bachelor’s (2008) and a master’s (2012) of technology in architecture from Tshwane Unviersity of Technology in Pretoria, South Africa. After graduation, she gained professional experience as an architect for Studio 4 Architects in Rwanda (2013–2017). Nibakuze was a 2018 TechWomen Fellow, and has guest lectured at Rwanda’s School of Architecture and the Built Environment in Kigali, Rwanda. She has served as a judge for the Dezeen Awards (2024) and is a member of the International Union of Architects (UIA, 2021–), of the Rwanda Institute of Architects, and of the East African Institute of Architects. She was named a finalist for the Diversity in Architecture Award (DIVIA) in 2023.
References
Kaira Looro = Architecture Competition : Peace Pavilion. Acicastello, Italia: Balouo Salo, 2019.
Lukashevich, Veronika. “Noella Nibakuze.” Diversity in Architecture, December 20, 2024. https://diversityinarchitecture.de/noella-nibakuze/.
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“Noella Nibakuze | Judges | Dezeen Awards 2024.” Dezeen, accessed June 6, 2025. https://www.dezeen.com/awards/2024/judges/noella-nibakuze/.
Nibakuze, Noella. LinkedIn, accessed June 6, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/noella-nibakuze-26881516/?originalSubdomain=rw.
“Noella Nibakuze.” MASS Design Group, accessed June 6, 2025. https://massdesigngroup.org/team/noella-nibakuze.
Nibakuze, Noella (@nibakuze_n). Instagram, accessed June 6, 2025. https://www.instagram.com/nibakuze_n/.
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Stone, Amy. “Changing Narratives: MASS Design Group’s Noella Nibakuze on Pioneering Paths and Shaping a Rwandan Architecture.” Madame Architect, November 2, 2022. https://www.madamearchitect.org/interviews/2022/10/1/noella-nibakuze-1.
“The Diversity in Architecture-DIVIA Award, Dedicated to Women Architects, Selects Five Finalists,” ArchDaily. March 9, 2023. https://www.archdaily.com/997625/the-diversity-in-architecture-divia-award-dedicated-to-women-architects-selects-five-finalists.
Women in STEM: Noella Nibakuze. UNICEF Rwanda, 2021. Video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmSKD702Dnw.
