Reconnect-Hub

Idea projektu

The RECONNECT-HUB for Kashitu Secondary School is a transformative project designed to revitalize a local community in Zambia through educational excellence and cultural integration. Anchored by fractal geometry and Zambian cultural motifs, the project seeks to build a sustainable learning environment that adapts to the needs and identity of its users—students, educators, and the wider community. This educational hub aims not only to provide top-notch academic facilities but also to serve as a center for communal activities, ensuring that the school becomes a cornerstone of daily life in Kashitu.

Popis projektu

The design of the Kashitu Secondary School campus incorporates a blend of traditional and contemporary architectural elements that reflect the rich cultural heritage of Zambia while providing state-of-the-art educational facilities. The school's layout uses hexagonal modules inspired by fractal geometry common in African designs, promoting efficiency and flexibility in building use and future expansion. The campus is segmented into various functional areas including classrooms, workshops, and communal spaces that encourage interaction among students and between the school and the community. Key to this project is the use of local materials and techniques. Walls made from compressed earth blocks and roofs thatched with local grasses speak to sustainable practices and cultural traditions, while modern methodologies ensure durability and comfort. Classrooms open onto courtyards and gardens, integrating nature into the daily educational experience and promoting an open, fluid learning environment. The Reconnect-Hub: Kashitu Secondary School is designed as a sustainable and adaptable educational complex that integrates academic, residential, vocational, and recreational functions within a cohesive spatial framework. The project consists of key zones, including classrooms, laboratories, and administrative offices in the academic core, while student dormitories and teacher housing form the residential sector. Vocational workshops, agricultural training areas, and greenhouses support hands-on learning, while recreational spaces, sports facilities, and gathering areas foster social interaction and well-being. The layout prioritizes passive cooling strategies, natural shading, and ecological integration, ensuring a comfortable and energy-efficient environment. The hexagonal modular system allows for phased expansion, enabling the school to evolve based on student and community needs while maintaining strong connections between learning, living, and nature.

Technické informácie

The Reconnect-Hub: Kashitu Secondary School is designed with a modular, load-bearing structural system that integrates locally sourced materials to enhance sustainability, cost efficiency, and durability. The primary construction material is Compressed Earth Blocks (CEB), which provide high thermal mass, natural insulation, and a low carbon footprint. The foundation system consists of reinforced concrete footings, ensuring structural stability on varying soil conditions. The roofing system incorporates two types of materials: thatched roofs for shaded communal areas, which enhance passive cooling and natural ventilation, and aluminum-clad lightweight roofs with integrated skylights in academic and dormitory spaces to optimize daylighting while ensuring protection from weather conditions. Floors are constructed using rammed earth and polished concrete, offering high durability and improved thermal performance, while natural clay plaster on walls supports indoor air quality and humidity control. Given the warm climate, the design prioritizes passive cooling strategies, including cross-ventilation through large louvered windows, high ceilings for heat dissipation, and extended roof overhangs to minimize direct solar gain. The thermal massing properties of CEB walls help stabilize indoor temperatures, reducing reliance on mechanical cooling systems. Additionally, a rainwater harvesting system integrated into the roof design directs collected water to underground storage tanks for irrigation and non-potable uses. The landscaping approach follows permaculture principles, incorporating native vegetation to regulate the microclimate and enhance sustainability. The construction methodology follows a phased, modular approach, allowing for gradual expansion based on student enrollment and community needs. The on-site prefabrication of CEB blocks minimizes transportation costs and engages the local workforce, fostering skill development. The bottom-up assembly strategy ensures an efficient and flexible building process, starting with foundation work, followed by modular wall placement, and culminating in the installation of roof structures. Structural stability is achieved through reinforced concrete footings and load-bearing CEB walls, reducing the need for excessive steel reinforcements, except in high-load areas such as multi-level dormitories and workshop buildings. The roof trusses, constructed from lightweight steel or timber, provide structural integrity while maintaining material efficiency. Additionally, seismic-resistant detailing is incorporated to ensure resilience against minor ground movements. The project emphasizes energy and resource efficiency by optimizing natural daylight, integrating solar panels for supplementary power, and employing greywater recycling systems to minimize water waste. By merging traditional African architectural elements with modern sustainable construction techniques, Reconnect-Hub establishes a resilient, adaptable, and environmentally responsible educational infrastructure, reinforcing the relationship between architecture, community development, and ecological stewardship.