THE EARTH SCHOOL

1ST PRIZE

TEAM
DONGHWAN MOON – [MMK]

JONG HWA LEE – [ALP ARCHITECTURE]

JEE YEON HAN, BYUNGRYOUNG LEE 

NEW YORK, USA

Community ground is a new prototype of public schools in rural Senegal. We introduce a spatial framework so the community can build their own school in different phases. The school can expand, adapt, and transform within its modular structural system. The construction process will provide training opportunities for the community members, empowering them with a sense of pride and ownership. This village-like school works as a social infrastructure that promotes education for young students and enhances the quality of community life.

Design + Sustainability
The school has two main courtyards, a large playground, and a garden. The playground is mainly for outdoor activity (sports) and community events such as open markets and festivals. The garden has various kinds of local plantings, while the existing trees are mostly preserved. It is a local learning laboratory of horticulture, landscape, and gardening. These two courtyards are defined by the surrounding classrooms and the multi-purpose hall at the center. The building layout is carefully configured to preserve the existing trees and neighborhood views. The building orientation and its roof system are also designed to optimize natural light, ventilation, and rainwater collection for irrigation and toilet use. Solar panels are also integrated for lighting and other educational and community needs. Community gardens, pools, and agoras are inserted between classroom modules, providing places to meet, discuss, and play.

Construction
We are proposing a construction strategy that can be efficient and sustainable. A simple modular structural grid allows the school to be developed in different phases. We are introducing a series of construction techniques such as earth blocks, rammed earth, soil bag, utilizing the local soil, wood, and stone. The typical ‘T-shaped’ column structure to be easy to construct and repeatable consisted of a 4m x 8m module. This allows an efficient extension of the building for the next phases. The building will be constructed by local community members who collaborate with the local construction experts and international volunteers.

Our team is currently working on Construction Document and the project is expected to build in early 2023. As this project will be constructed with 100% donation, please let us know if you are interested in supporting funds or participation. Thank you.