From the Ground, Up

Project idea

The idea of this project is rooted in the urgent educational gap in Kashitu, Zambia, where hundreds of children graduate from primary school each year without access to secondary education. The project addresses this need by proposing a new type of rural school — one that grows from the land, is built by the community, and creates a lasting sense of place.

The design takes inspiration from the earth itself, using Interlocking Compressed Earth Blocks (ICEB) and locally available materials to make the construction affordable, low-carbon, and replicable. The school is not just a response to the lack of infrastructure, but a vision for generational change — where knowledge is cultivated from the ground, up.

Project description

This project consists of a masterplan that introduces a full secondary school campus, including academic buildings, science laboratories, workshops, dormitories, assembly space, sanitation blocks, staff housing, and outdoor learning areas.

The academic, laboratory, and workshop buildings are designed with courtyards and planted trees, giving each block a unique identity. A butterfly roof system connects the internal spaces with light, ventilation, and water collection. These buildings are partially sunken into the ground for thermal comfort and spatial character.

Supporting buildings such as dormitories and services follow a simpler, modular structural system that allows for phased construction over time. The project is scalable and community-driven, making it suitable for gradual development based on available funding and resources.

Technical information

Primary Structure Type:
System 1: Bamboo trusses with butterfly roofs and ICEB walls, for academic, laboratory, workshop, and assembly buildings
System 2: Timber post-and-beam construction with ICEB walls for dormitories, staff housing, toilets, and service units

Materials Used:
Interlocking Compressed Earth Blocks (ICEB)
Bamboo for trusses, colonnades, and sun-shading systems
Timber for secondary structures
Corrugated metal for roof cladding

Passive Systems:
Natural daylight through clerestories
Cross ventilation via building orientation and shaded openings
Rainwater harvesting through butterfly roof channels
Thermal comfort through sunken floor levels and thermal mass

Capacity:
8 classrooms total (50 students per classroom)
Science lab building with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology labs
Workshops for Agriculture, Tailoring, Cooking, and Metalwork
Dormitories with central courtyards for boys and girls
Outdoor learning and gathering spaces connected by landscape pathways

Phasing:
The campus is designed for incremental construction in phases
Modular units allow for easy replication and community-based construction

Documentation

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