ASA Design Ltd.

Pre-primary School

Pre-primary School
Courtesy of Asa studio

Pre-primary School

Asa studio

ARCHITECTS
Asa Studio

MAIN DESIGNERS
Tomà Berlanda, Nerea Amòros

PHOTOGRAPHS
CPhotographs :c

DESIGN TEAM
Zeno Riondato, Michelle Stadelman, Francesco Stassi, Alice Tasca

YEAR
2013

LOCATION
Rwanda

CATEGORY
Educational Architecture, Schools

Text description provided by architect.

The project aim is to set the Rwandan standards for preprimary facilities. Based on the findings from the Child Friendly Schools standards, this project seeks to stimulate kids under 6.

Pre-primary School
Courtesy of Asa studio
Pre-primary School
Courtesy of Asa studio

Considered as an added educator, the design is thought to engage the kids self-learning and stimulation. The use of materials and techniques, the participatory process of design and construction, and the compound arrangement, seek to achieve a sustainable, innovative, cost efficient and replicable model.

SUSTAINABILITY CONCEPT

Gasanze preprimary school is one of 5 pilot projects that aim to improve early childhood education at a national level. The Government of Rwanda’s wants to set the standards for preprimary facilities having the model replicated at every primary school countrywide; therefore cost efficiency and community involvement are key of success.

Pre-primary School
Courtesy of Asa studio
Pre-primary School
Courtesy of Asa studio

The design should achieve sustainable, creative and comfortable learning spaces for children under the age of 6.

The project uses local materials introducing small innovations to the traditional construction methods for structurally sound and stimulating facilities that transfer skills to the community.

Pre-primary School
Courtesy of Asa studio
Pre-primary School
Courtesy of Asa studio

The design can be easily understood and its techniques can be applied elsewhere to improve the built environment. Working with 5 different rural communities is unveiling questions related role of architecture in the Rwandan kids’ stimulation as well as aesthetic and spatial considerations.

All elements are designed to engage the children’s gross motor, language skills, social interaction and knowledge toilets; outdoors covered learning spaces that allow for flexible uses year round; different materials, patterns, textures, shapes and colors; interior organization of the classrooms with several different storage spaces and different corners.

Pre-primary School
Courtesy of Asa studio
Pre-primary School
Courtesy of Asa studio

All these elements position the facility as an added educator, helping caregivers in their job and fostering the child’s self-learning process.

The use local materials reduce the environmental impact, and allow for unskilled labor to learn and grow with the building.

Pre-primary School
Courtesy of Asa studio
Pre-primary School
Courtesy of Asa studio

The RC load bearing structure ensures safety against hazards meanwhile the use of fired brick masonry elevations fit with the village fabric.

The interior reed ceiling gives aesthetic value to the space improving the acoustic and climatic comfort while the roof skylight allows for enough daylight.

Pre-primary School
Courtesy of Asa studio
Pre-primary School
Courtesy of Asa studio

UNICEF’s role involving local authorities, defining an innovative teaching strategy, providing for logistics and funding, and liaising with the Ministry of Education has been crucial.

The participation of all stakeholders is a central piece of the design process, which began with the findings from the CFS consultation project carried out by UNICEF 2008 across country; ASA has been working with headmasters, UNICEF, engineers, contractors, and community masons to ensure the long-term durability of these facilities.

Pre-primary School
Courtesy of Asa studio


Pre-primary School
Floor Plan
Pre-primary School
Rendering


Pre-primary School
Section AA
Pre-primary School
Section BB


Pre-primary School
Elevation

ASA Design Ltd.
T +250 728 667860
ASA Design Ltd.
Kigali, Rwanda