Design of a School: Lela Primary School and Training Center

Project idea

The village of Niandouba and Lela, located in the poverty-stricken Kolda region of South Senegal, West Africa, faces challenges such as a lack of proper infrastructure and limited access to education for its 150-200 children aged 6-12. In response, a primary school has been designed to serve as a landmark and community hub. Rooted in traditional concepts of prosperity, the school is situated between two mango trees, providing shade and featuring north-south oriented classrooms with effective ventilation.
The school's design consists of three blocks: administration and canteen; a north block for phase-1 children having classrooms and toilets; and a south block for phase-2 children along with a lab and mini-vegetable garden. Curved walls, inspired by the village's existing vernacular style, create a harmonious environment. The entrance offers an inviting view of the mango tree and courtyard with bamboo playscapes.
A central concept is the maintenance of the nutrition cycle. An agora connected to the canteen and lab, along with separate edible gardens for each phase, enables children to learn about crop cultivation, and poultry rearing and contribute to their meals. The lab serves as a flexible space for various activities, and the administration block is strategically placed for teacher supervision.
Community involvement is emphasized through landscape design and walkability, encouraging parents to send their children to school. A community vegetation field allows shared farming, and a flexible area near the sick room supports skill-developing workshops, training sessions or village meetings after school hours.
To enhance the school's playfulness, Tire-scapes are introduced as landscaping and playing elements, ensuring playability during the rainy season. A mango forest in the north and a covered courtyard in the south block contribute to recreational areas, while the customized furniture serves dual purposes of play and storage. A water reservoir and shallow pond promote rainwater collection and add vitality to the learning environment.

Project description

Building a school involves careful consideration of materials to ensure sustainability and cost-effectiveness. In the context of South Senegal, the use of locally available materials becomes paramount, contributing to the project's cultural integration and long-term viability.

Rammed earth walls, made from locally sourced materials like laterite earth, red clay, straw, sand, and gravel, highlight the integration of vernacular construction practices and nature. These materials not
only lend character to the school's architecture but also ensure harmony with the surrounding environment. To establish a sustainable and sturdy framework, wooden columns and rosewood beams are employed. These elements not only provide structural support but also contribute to the local economy by utilizing readily available wood resources. The use of bamboo veils for windows and doors further enhances the aesthetics and introduces a playful element through varied patterns and textures.

The rainwater collected can be utilized for various purposes such as watering the gardens, using in the latrine etc. It facilitates the water supply for the school community. Waste materials like discarded tires find a new purpose in the construction of the school. These tires are creatively repurposed to create a playscape for children, enhancing their recreational experiences while reducing environmental waste. The tires also serve as an innovative fencing material in the school's garden area, adding a touch of aesthetic appeal and promoting the concept of upcycling.

One of our core concepts for material choice would be sustainability. Considering the pollution created by cement production, we have tried to keep the use of cement as minimal as possible which led to the choice of poured earth as the principal foundation material. The use of bamboo reeds in the roof serves as a second layer of roofing and helps the cooling process. Fabrics have been used in the connecting corridors along with a tarpaulin layer for waterproofing to reduce roofing material price and in turn, make the school more colourful.

Technical information

The design of the structure is adaptable to diverse site conditions, with a specific focus on incorporating at least one mango tree into the design. In an endeavour to create a sustainable and adaptable community structure, this project emphasizes community participation in the construction, combining traditional building techniques with innovative approaches.
The construction process begins with site preparation, including flattening the site and establishing a solid foundation using compressed fine earth and gravel. To ensure water resistance, tarpaulin sheets are placed in trenches for the wall foundation. The wall foundation is poured earth ratio 6: 3: 1 for Earth, sand and cement) with compacted gravel and it is placed on top of rocks. The walls are constructed using rammed earth, (44% laterite, 15% gravel, 32% sand, 8% lime, 3% straw and cow dung.) Incorporating natural stabilizers like straw and cow dung instead of cement would reduce the project's carbon footprint facilitating sustainability. The walls have been made such that they do not touch the wooden structure. Due to this, the villagers can anytime repair the walls if they are damaged keeping the structure intact.
A lightweight yet robust timber structure having columns made of rosewood planks and rosewood beams is assembled. Concrete spread footing for wooden posts with planks has
been used. Here metal plate knife joint holds the column with the footing. Where there is no floor around the wooden posts, tires are placed around the footing to not expose it. The top of tires are filled with crushed stones. The modular design of the wooden posts and beams enables efficient construction, allowing for on-site assembly or pre-assembly and lifting into place. The roof unit contains rafters, battens, and corrugated metal sheets.
The walls and floors are constructed with a focus on organic design principles. The floors are finished with poured earth with 5 % cement, minimizing cement usage. Three protective layers of boiled linseed oil safeguard the floor against rainwater, further enhancing its longevity. Wooden frames and bamboo elements are used for the doors and windows integrated into the structure, combining aesthetic appeal with sustainability.
Finally, the project encourages community engagement by involving villagers, especially children, in the tire colouring process, fostering a sense of pride and ownership in the finished structure. In conclusion, this construction project demonstrates the potential of sustainable and community-driven building practices.

Documentation

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