RAINWATER PLAYGROUND STORY
A lush wilderness characterizes the plot where the kids will play one day. In the first step we define the plot with a perimeter wall. The buildings will be placed adjacent so they become part of the wall. The result is a spacious, protected courtyard in the center. A covered path with ramps connects all the buildings and allows for obstacle-free access to every room.
Functions that produce wastewater will be placed in the lower part of the plot, to ease the handling of sewage and food waste. In the higher part, we allocate the administrational and school services.
The gable roofs are designed to provide shade and channel rainwater to the courtyard cisterns. The utilization of rainwater and local materials serves as guiding principles for the design of the school.
The main room of each classroom is accessible from the ground floor. Big shelves for storage are placed between the classrooms. The mezzanine level offers additional space. A net that spans over the open space is introduced as a playful climbing area. In the Northern part of the site, there is space for gardens or an extension of the school.
The courtyard is divided into an outdoor play area in front of the classrooms and an orchard in front of the kitchen. Cisterns are placed in both gardens for the various water uses A well complements the cisterns in case of a drought. Parts of the courtyard garden, as well as some outdoor areas between the buildings, are covered to offer outdoor spaces that can be used even in bad weather conditions.
A mix of local stones, cement and earth is used for the foundations. Concrete ring beams in combination with CEB columns form the load bearing system. CEB’s (Compressed Earth Blocks), weaved palm-thatched boards, branch-boards, and wooden doors/windows are used for the infills. Pinewood trusses covered in palm thatch make up the roof construction.
The goal of our preschool proposal is to create safe, exciting and diverse spaces for learning and playing. The perimeter wall and the buildings shelter the inner courtyard where the kids can roam freely. Locally sourced materials and processes not only benefit the school but also support local businesses. The potential use of the school as an emergency shelter further enhances its social and humanitarian value. While the project primarily focuses on the kids, it also adds value to the entire community
SUMMARY
Classrooms (6) 85 m2
Multipurpose Space 120 m2
Administration 95 m2
Dining Room 65 m2
Kitchen Zone 55 m2
WC / Showers / Storage 60 m2
