Supervisor: Christo van der Hoven
Research Field: Mass Timber
Keywords: Mass Timber, Primary School Design, Educational Assistance, Improved Learning Conditions, Future Opportunity Orientated
Abstract
Public education in South Africa has been facing many challenges for the past 30 years. These challenges include, but are not limited to, over-crowded and inadequate schools that do not meet minimum standards set by the Department of Education. Even these minimums do not however consider the potential experience which can be offered to staff and students to improve the educational outcome and participation of the users. The project focuses on addressing the infrastructure needs of Ivory Park Primary School as an existing public no-fees school, as well as the staff’s personal desire to facilitate extracurricular opportunities for the students.
The selected primary school is situated in the Ivory Park suburb on the western edge of Midrand, bordering Thembisa. The already densely populated and socio-economically challenged suburb, has additionally been designated as a development zone for priority and social housing, leading to the inevitable further increased residential densification. With an increase of residents, follows along an increase of even more students. Thus in response to the pressing need of capacity and quality of infrastructure, the project makes use of Mass Timber as a main building material. Known for its sustainability, modular adaptability, and fast construction capabilities, this material will allow for the potential of future additions with evolving user needs.
The project aims to change the perspective of what a public school should look like while using architecture as a means of assisting in the educational journey of both the staff and students. The broader school design reorganises the grounds to create a layered network of shared, personal, and connected spaces, activating the in-between areas as dynamic environments for informal learning, play, or social interaction. Architecturally, the project reconceptualises the classroom as an individual modular unit capable of, to a degree, internal adaptation to diverse teaching modes and user needs. Each unit addressing needed aspects like flexibility, ample diffused lighting and a sense of ownership for the students.
