Chipakata Village community. The first phase of the project, which opened in January
2015, includes a classroom building, community pavilion, administrative office and
teachers’ housing. Nearby, agricultural fields dedicated to generating food and income
support the operation of the school and ensure long-term economic sustainability for
the project. Local village residents were key participants throughout the development
and construction process.
Referencing regional school planning typologies, the design of the classroom structure
transforms the standard model to create a new paradigm. The design provides for
ten teaching and learning spaces compared to the four rooms found in the typical
prototype. This is achieved by breaking down the monolithic volume of the typical
classroom bar building and introducing open space for collaborative activity between
classrooms. Additionally, elevating the roof canopy above the masonry base allows
for an upper level accessible by stair, with open-air spaces directly above each of
the four classrooms. Informed by the local climate and solar conditions, the window
openings and roof canopy are configured to maximize daylight within the classrooms.
Clerestory windows are integrated into all the classrooms with a continuous roof
overhang serving to protect spaces on both levels from harsh solar gain during the
summer months. Adjacent to the classroom building is a community gathering space
— a triangular shaped structure — providing shelter from the sun and rain and a
flexible space for eating, gathering and community celebrations.
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The construction of the buildings is based on a modular approach to both the masonry
units of the classrooms and the repetitive structure of the roof canopy. All materials
were locally procured and assembled on-site. The textural quality of the unitized
masonry construction is expressed in the screen walls that enclose the stairs at both
ends of the building. AD
africandesignmagazine.com