LIVING COURTYARD

Project idea

This project is rooted in the rural, climatic, and cultural context of Kashitu, Zambia, focusing on the transformative potential of educational spaces—both socially and environmentally. The core idea is that the courtyard is not just a physical void, but the heart of learning, interaction, and belonging.

Through the "Living Courtyard" concept, each building is designed as a modular unit. These modules are grouped around courtyards to create climate-responsive and community-centered open spaces. The project's primary goal is to offer a sustainable, accessible, and culturally meaningful educational environment by integrating natural ventilation, rainwater harvesting, and local materials.

This proposal envisions a school model that supports learning not only inside the classroom, but also in the open air, through shared experience, in connection with community and nature.

Project description

This project offers a user-centered and sustainable school campus proposal developed in response to the rural, climatic, and cultural conditions of Kashitu, Zambia. At the heart of the design lies the “Living Courtyard” concept, which reimagines courtyards not as empty gaps but as central spaces for learning, gathering, and social interaction. The layout is organized around a primary circulation axis running southeastern to northwest, establishing a strong spatial connection between the teachers’ housing and the academic buildings. Building volumes are oriented according to solar angles and prevailing winds to optimize natural lighting and cross-ventilation, while agricultural fields are placed side by side, separated from the buildings to enable efficient and manageable irrigation. A central plaza acts as a unifying public space for community interaction, outdoor learning, and events, and sports fields are positioned along the north-south axis to benefit from daylight throughout the day. Each module is designed around a courtyard, creating shaded, comfortable microclimates that support rest and interaction. Roofs are sloped to collect rainwater, and pergolas along the main axis and plaza edges provide shaded walkways and semi-open gathering areas. Ultimately, this design proposes not just a school, but a climate-responsive, culturally rooted, and community-driven learning environment that lives and grows with its users.

Technical information

In the Living Courtyard project; at the bottom, stone foundations allow the building to rest on the natural ground. On top of these, adobe (ICIB), bamboo, and wooden elements provide natural insulation and are suitable for local construction techniques. Above that, a reinforced concrete platform provides both structural stability and defines the grid of the modular system. Square-section metal profiles resting on the concrete bear the load of the structural elements. In the middle section, metal lattice beams (trusses) form the main system supporting the roof. This system allows for spanning large openings and is supported by bamboo cladding and lightweight metal profiles on the upper layer. At the top, metal sheet roofing and solar panels are installed. The metal roof is sloped to collect rainwater and is durable and lightweight. The solar panels contribute environmentally by reducing the building’s energy demand. Thanks to this layered structure, the project can be built using local materials while offering a modular, durable, and climate-adaptive architectural system.
First of all, the roof’s form is not just an aesthetic choice; it is a climatic and functional strategy. The wide and sloped roof collects rainwater and directs it for use in toilets, kitchens, and agricultural areas. This way, water management is resolved sustainably. The building roof is designed with a large surface area and a pronounced slope to efficiently capture rainfall. Water flows toward the lowest points of the roof where rain chains are integrated, guiding the water vertically from the gutters down to collection basins or underground storage tanks. This passive yet elegant system allows for visible, low-tech water management. The harvested water is then stored and reused for multiple purposes, including irrigating the school orchard, supplying the kitchen, and flushing latrines. This strategy enhances sustainability while also educating students on ecological cycles through visible, functional design.The gap between the roof and the walls allows hot air to rise and escape. This natural chimney effect provides cooling inside the building. Additionally, opposing openings create cross ventilation; the wind naturally cools the interior spaces. The classrooms are positioned facing south. This orientation maximizes natural light, providing a bright learning environment throughout the day. The courtyard at the center of the building functions not only as a visual void but as a living space where students can rest, socialize, and participate in outdoor activities. The openings facing the courtyard strengthen the indoor-outdoor connection and naturalize user movement. In this section, it is clearly seen that the architecture offers not just shelter but a climate-responsive, user-focused, and socially interactive living space.
The modular system in the project is structured around a 6-meter structural grid to ensure functionality, ease of construction, and spatial flexibility. All buildings are derived from standard module sizes: the 6x6 m unit is ideal for compact functions such as offices, storage, WC-shower units, or corridor links; the 6x12 m unit accommodates classrooms, small dining spaces, workshops, as well as teacher lounges, reading rooms, infirmary, and principal’s office; the 6x18 m unit is suited for large teacher lounges and WC areas; and the 6x24 m unit provides space for science laboratories, workshops, and library units. These modules are easily replicable using local labor, scalable according to evolving needs, and are arranged around courtyards to ensure natural lighting, cross-ventilation, and climate responsiveness.

Documentation

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