Project Details
- Project Name
- Ulyankulu School
- Location
- Tanzania
- Architect
- Arh+ Pracownia Architektoniczna
- Client/Owner
- WayAir Foundation
- Project Types
- Education
- Project Scope
- New Construction
- Shared by
- Ayda Ayoubi
- Team
-
Iwo Borkowicz
Adam Siemaszkiewicz
Łukasz Rawecki
- Consultants
- Structural Engineer: Akon
- Project Status
- Concept Proposal
Project Description
FROM THE ARCHITECTS:
WAYAiR Foundation was created by a group of passionate educators that for last 25 years were developing a unique school program in Poznan, Poland. “Łejery” started as a small theatre group for children and evolved to become a school that proves its democratic and art based educational programs year by year. WAYAiR got created to share the knowledge and experience of “Łejery” with others. It’s time for the first ground up project of the Foundation outside of Poland.
Ulyankulu is a young, small town in Tanzania. Its a result of migrations of thousands of Burundi refugees in 1970’. Project is based on an in depth onsite research by both educators, migration experts, ethnographers and finally architects. All phases of the project were conducted in a cooperation with local community, organisations, leaders and schools.
The fundamental idea of the Ulyankulu School is to create not only a building for education, but a space that can accommodate and stimulate social activities. This is why we call this proposal an educational village. The heart of the WAYAiR educational model is teaching through theatre. Therefore, in the heart of the school a theatre room is designed with the audience placed inside of a central courtyard shaded with the canopy of beautiful mango trees. All classrooms are additionally wrapped within a playful, ornamental, perforated clay-brick wall creating many smaller patios, each designed to suite different outdoor activity and stimulate kids and other Ulyankulu inhabitants to socialize, play and spend time together.
We believe in a value of traditional knowledge, heritage and local identity complemented by environmental awareness and professional architectural expertise. Therefore our proposal uses materials, details and craftsmanship from Ulyankulu region and creates sustainable and socially inclusive architecture. Classroom structure, shape and especially its double roof structure is designed in order to create efficient passive cooling and prevent overheating of the interior.
All of the roofs are able to collect rain water, which will be stored underground and supply all students with necessary water during harsh annual draughts.
