Shiyala Primary School

Shiyala Primary School
© Andrew Perkins, Jaime Velasco, Paul Crompton

SHIYALA PRIMARY SCHOOL

BuildX Studio

ARCHITECTS
BuildX Studio

CLIENT
Mothers of Africa

DESIGN TEAM 
BuildX Studio

ARCHITECT IN CHARGE
Andrew Perkins, Jaime Velasco

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
StructureMode

PHOTOGRAPHS
Andrew Perkins, Jaime Velasco, Paul Crompton

AREA 
930 m²

LOCATION
Chongwe, Zambia

CATEGORY
Elementary & Middle School

YEAR
2017

Text description provided by architect.

Ten years after they were originally built by local Government, the modest classroom blocks that made up the Shiyala Primary School near Lusaka, Zambia, stood derelict.

Shiyala Primary School
© Andrew Perkins, Jaime Velasco, Paul Crompton
Shiyala Primary School
© Andrew Perkins, Jaime Velasco, Paul Crompton

Despite a skilled local workforce in both earth-brick production and masonry work; both structures suffered from under-engineering, poor maintenance and lack of financial support. With a minimal budget, BuildX Studio converted the existing structures into a colorful primary school.

Taking cue from the fragile foundations already in place and a very tight budget, the roof structure is removed to relieve any unnecessary weight on the walls.

Shiyala Primary School
© Andrew Perkins, Jaime Velasco, Paul Crompton
Shiyala Primary School
© Andrew Perkins, Jaime Velasco, Paul Crompton

A new super-structure is created around them in the form of rammed-earth-filled steel drums which are retained as a permanent form-work, both to protect from the elements and act as tensile reinforcement.

Similarly, sections of the existing brick walls are cut away to receive the new columns. As the drums take on a compressive role, the masonry resists shear forces without the addition of extra cross-bracing.

Shiyala Primary School
© Andrew Perkins, Jaime Velasco, Paul Crompton
Shiyala Primary School
© Andrew Perkins, Jaime Velasco, Paul Crompton

The new roof offers generous passive shading during Zambia’s hottest months, with an air gap between the walls and roof for increased airflow and natural lighting.

Whilst a spectrum of colour across each building creates a sense of identity between rooms, smaller drums of varying heights are sunken into the earth as seats, gathering places, and jumping platforms.

The final school features three classroom blocks framing a central courtyard within the compound and a central library block.

Shiyala Primary School
© Andrew Perkins, Jaime Velasco, Paul Crompton
Shiyala Primary School
© Andrew Perkins, Jaime Velasco, Paul Crompton
Shiyala Primary School
© Andrew Perkins, Jaime Velasco, Paul Crompton

To the North of the site, flanking the access road, is a staff housing block and a solar-assisted compost toilet block.  The Primary School was commissioned by the Zambia Ministry of Education early 2018.


Shiyala Primary School
© Andrew Perkins, Jaime Velasco, Paul Crompton
Shiyala Primary School
© Andrew Perkins, Jaime Velasco, Paul Crompton
Shiyala Primary School
© Andrew Perkins, Jaime Velasco, Paul Crompton
Shiyala Primary School
© Andrew Perkins, Jaime Velasco, Paul Crompton


Shiyala Primary School
Site Plan
Shiyala Primary School
Model


Shiyala Primary School
Elevation
Shiyala Primary School
Sections