Design of the Sunflower School in Ikengwa
Tanzania
An educational and symbolic project designed to bloom in the heart of Tanzania. An architecture that rises from the earth, offering a sustainable and dignified future to 350 children.
Year
2018
Project goals
The Sunflower School was born from the wish of the missionary congregation of the Sisters of St. Gemma Galgani to build an educational place that could also be a symbol of hope and rebirth. The goal is to create a school for 350 children inspired by the form of the sunflower: an architectural organism able to dialogue with the Tanzanian landscape and climate, using local materials and sustainable building techniques.
Site conditions
The site is a large agricultural field planted with sunflowers near Ikengwa, currently without adequate school facilities. The lack of quality spaces for children and the urgent need for functional and eco-friendly classrooms made it necessary to imagine a school that could answer both the concrete needs and the dreams of a growing community.
Design approach
The project follows a radial layout inspired by the sunflower: 24 raw-brick domes form the “petals” arranged around a central tree-filled patio. The domes vary in size and function according to their orientation:
- to the east, classrooms for older children, compact to protect from wind and sand;
- to the north and south, common and administrative spaces, regularly lit all year round;
- to the west, kindergarten classrooms, smaller and more spaced out to allow ventilation and contact with nature.
Rainwater collection is integrated into the portico system, with channels that direct the water into an underground cistern.
Details and materials
The structure is based on the use of local earth bricks, made on site and laid with traditional compass technique. The self-supporting domes provide high thermal mass, keeping the interiors cool even during the hottest months. Openings ensure natural light, while the overall layout allows optimal cross-ventilation. The project celebrates the identity of the place: simple but deeply rooted in its culture and climate, ready to welcome the future like a flower open to the sun.
