NEPAL SCHOOL PROJECT - An earthquake and flood resilient school building

Idea projektu

This project is a response to the urgent need for safe, sustainable, and replicable school infrastructure in Nepal, a region repeatedly struck by devastating earthquakes and seasonal floods. Natural disasters in Nepal have left many educational structures vulnerable or destroyed, disrupting learning and putting children’s lives at risk. Our design addresses this challenge by blending contextual sensitivity, low-tech innovation, and resilient architectural strategies to restore safety, continuity, and dignity to education in the country’s most vulnerable areas.

Popis projektu

The design’s goal is to encourage connection, participation, and inclusivity within the learning environment. The spatial layout encourages social bonding by channeling all users through a single route to key public spaces such as the dining area and playground, creating daily
opportunities for shared experience. Classroom blocks are linked with bridges to enhance movement and interconnectivity across the site. Inclusivity is fundamental to the design, with accessible ramps and pathways thoughtfully integrated to ensure full participation by persons
with disabilities (PWDs), making the environment welcoming and functional for all.

Technické informace

At the core of this concept is a creative, affordable, and practical approach to implementing a base isolation system. Automobile tyers have been intergrated into the lower part of the foundation to act as seismic isolators. These isolators act as shock absorbers, mitigating the lateral forces generated during earthquakes and significantly increasing the building’s resilience. In order to address the frequent flooding in low-lying areas, the entire structure is raised above ground on stilts made of Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC), preventing water ingress and allowing for better durability. The main walls of the structure are made of locally sourced materials, such as bamboo and seasoned wood, and will be built utilizing modular panelized techniques to lower costs and make replication easier. In order to reduce environmental effect and promote sustainability, the design makes use of passive cooling and natural daylighting through thoughtful window placement.
Additionally, integrated drainage lines send excess rainwater to the orchard. The spatial configuration prioritizes open, flexible classrooms that can serve as safe community shelters during emergencies.

Dokumentace

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