Malawi Secondary School

The relational character of the project is developed by reading the existing socio-cultural and environmental systems and structuring the footprint of the architecture following the logics of these systems. A green corridor organizes a resilient socio-ecological productive landscape where the cultural heritage, the natural resources and the agro-diversity are interconnected for increased agricultural production, wealth creation and a sustainable maintenance of the ecosystem services. This productive landscape is interconnected with the architecture of the school serving as an open air laboratory for the children to acquire the knowledge and skills they need to face their daily life challenges such as: the development of governance structures for the management of natural resources, the development and maintenance of adequate water and sanitation amenities and the development of sustainable farming practices.

The organization of the architecture is conceived as a tool for social transformation. The entrance is through a wooden gallery that leads to the library and articulates two main spaces: the market plaza and the cultural axis. A first building gallery faces the market plaza containing the public functions of the school: the library, the labs, the computer lab and the health centre. This area of the school is dedicated to arts and crafts, mechanical systems, design instruments and new information technologies. The market plaza promotes student entrepreneurship and it could be isolated from the rest of the school and opened after school hours in order to serve the wider community. The cultural axis organizes the multipurpose room with two annexed piazzas for dancing and performance and the kitchen and dining room. The circulation across the landscape creates a variety of interrelated educational and play areas. Adjacent to the library there is a stepping courtyard for reading and contemplation. In between the three classroom buildings there are three interconnected play areas and adjacent to the dormitories there are a series of courtyards for night gathering and storytelling. The school’s living room provides a safe and inspiring environment nurturing creativity while paying special attention to the wellbeing of the students; promoting respect, tolerance and gender equality. The student’s dorms are in the centre of the plot, creating a tight and secured community. The dorms are organized around a courtyard containing a shower room area and a shared living room area.

The material system combines a contemporary aesthetic with traditional techniques. The building is constructed with local resources, earth bricks handmade on site are chosen for their thermal, technical and aesthetic properties. The technique chosen is the vault; it is an ancient technique widely spread in developing countries. The geometry of the vault makes the material to perform in compression allowing large spans without using wood or steel structure. The light elements consist of weaved wooden panels, mosquito nets and straw panels.