Campus Design of Zambian High School—— A learning paradies in nature

Project idea

The design vision of Kashitu Middle School is to create a practical and innovative school that can meet educational needs while becoming a landmark building in the community.
By combining local materials, climate adaptive design, and community engagement, this project will demonstrate how to achieve high-quality educational facility construction in resource limited areas, creating a bright future for the children of Kashitu.

Project description

1. Considering that the school will serve students of different ages and needs, design space functions that include different needs.
In addition to traditional classrooms, it also includes laboratories, workshops, and outdoor learning spaces to support the implementation of practical education and innovative teaching methods.These spaces encourage students to explore and experiment, cultivating their creativity and problem-solving abilities.
2.Considering the high temperature climate characteristics of Zambia, four beautifully designed Warka water towers have been added to the campus, providing students with water resources while also having ornamental value, becoming iconic buildings of the school.
3. Considering that the local community will directly participate in the construction of the school, the design will use building techniques and materials that they are familiar with. This can not only reduce costs, but also enhance the community's sense of belonging and responsibility towards the school.

Technical information

Structural systems should be based mainly on interlocking cement earth block (ICEB) with dimensions 140x290 mm in the single-laid walls with mortar and wall with thickness of 290 mm in the double-laid mortar walls.Other non load bearing structures use locally produced materials to support the local economy.
The design needs to consider Zambia's high temperature and rainy climate to ensure that the building has good ventilation, insulation, and moisture resistance.Adopting wide eaves, shading facilities, and natural ventilation system to improve indoor environment.