Design of a dormitory in Ikengwa
Tanzania
A welcoming and safe place designed to host the children attending the school of Ikengwa. A simple, sustainable architecture, integrated into the landscape, built with earth and conceived for everyday well-being.
Year
2018
Project goals
The dormitory was conceived as a fundamental complement to the Sunflower School, with the aim of offering hospitality and protection to students coming from distant areas. The project seeks to create comfortable, well-ventilated and easily accessible spaces, able to respond to both the educational and social needs of the children, while respecting local traditions and climate.
Site conditions
The site is a large field cultivated with sunflowers, located near the school. The rural context and the lack of facilities dedicated to student accommodation make it necessary to design a place that supports school attendance in a serene, functional and protected environment, surrounded by nature.
Design approach
The project consists of two staggered main volumes facing the landscape, hosting bedrooms and services. At the ends, a smaller connecting block serves as the communal dining hall, a flexible space central to dormitory life. The internal organization follows a simple but effective logic, separating male and female areas to guarantee privacy, functionality and safety. The complex is completed by an outdoor courtyard with two symbolic elements: a small sunken amphitheater and a panoramic pyramid, designed as spaces for play and social interaction.
Details and materials
The structure is made almost entirely of local earth bricks, fired on site to reduce costs and ensure sustainability and thermal comfort. The corrugated sheet roofs, supported by wooden trusses, are designed to optimize ventilation, rainwater collection, and the future installation of solar panels. Openings are arranged in a modular way to provide natural lighting and continuous cross-ventilation. Facades adapt to the climate: closed to the east to protect from wind and sand, more open to the north and south to encourage light and airflow. The result is a sober and intelligent building, deeply rooted in its place.
