CLIENT

Mothers of Africa is a non-profit organisation established in 2004 by Professor Judith Hall, a doctor in Cardiff UK. The charity works to improve women's health and tackle poverty.

Through their work in Zambia to promote women’s health, Mothers of Africa realised that the village girls would never have control of their own health without proper education. This is what guided them to work together with the community to upgrade existing schools and bring this much-needed educational impact to the region.

PROJECT

The project is the upgrading and extension of an existing primary school in Zambia. Ten years after they were originally built by local Government, the modest classroom blocks stood derelict. With a minimal budget, using local materials in innovative ways, BuildX Studio worked to create a colourful, dignified and healthy community school and staff housing.

The final school features three classroom blocks framing a central courtyard within the compound, as well as a small library. 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 in early 2018.

IMPACT

Education is a key pillar to sustainable development and the school, through its simple, cost-effective and inspirational design, brings hope and inspiration to the community.

The new roof in the renovated blocks offers generous shading during Zambia’s hottest months, with an air gap between the walls and roof for increased airflow and natural lighting. A spectrum of colour across each building creates a sense of identity between rooms, whilst smaller drums of varying heights are sunken into the ground as seats, gathering places, and jumping platforms.