INSAKA: A KASHITU SECONDARY SCHOOL PROJECT

Idea projektu

The idea of this project stems from the need to provide an inclusive, functional, and quality learning space where students can gather, learn, and share knowledge informally—much like in traditional African communities. Inspired by the concept of the Insaka, a circular gathering place found in villages across Zambia and South Africa, the project aims to reinterpret this tradition in a modern educational context. The lack of appropriate communal spaces for students to assemble, interact, and learn highlights the importance of this initiative. The school also acts as a community activity hub for holding various communal activities.

Popis projektu

The project consists of several key components designed to create a culturally rooted and functional learning environment. At its core is the Main Gathering Area, a circular, open-air structure inspired by the traditional Insaka, serving as the communal heart where students can meet, interact, and engage in informal learning. Surrounding this central space are the supporting facilities, comprised of rectangular buildings that accommodate specialized functions such as classrooms, laboratories, and administrative offices. These structures are laid out in a radial spatial organization, ensuring clear visual and physical connectivity to the Insaka, enabling intuitive wayfinding and ease of monitoring student activities.

Besides that, the project is carefully designed to respond to its site context, integrating three existing buildings—the carpentry workshop, nursery, and watchman’s hut—into a cohesive plan. The layout addresses the flat savannah terrain, prevailing eastern winds, and the region’s alternating extreme seasonal conditions, while also considering the need for off-grid solutions due to unreliable water and electricity infrastructure.

Technické informace

The building is primarily constructed using Interlocking Compressed Earth Blocks (ICEB), offering both environmental sustainability and structural integrity. The roofing system consists of a steel truss framework topped with a metal deck, ensuring durability and ease of maintenance. Curved walls are formed using rammed earth construction, which allows for sculptural flexibility while maintaining thermal mass and ecological sensitivity. Structural support is provided by a combination of reinforced concrete and load-bearing ICEB columns, strategically placed along the building's grid. In the main gathering hall, steel columns are employed to support the expansive roof span, allowing for an open and unobstructed interior space.

Dokumentace

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