PRIMARY SCHOOL IN THE MARSHES OF IRAQ
DEWAN AWARD TAMAYOUZ CONTEST 2018
In the heart of the wetlands in south of Iraq reigns a hot and stifling atmosphere. Completely distorted by the surrounding cities, this region remains untouched and loses its anthropological values. As a result, the architectural response needs to fit with the modernity of today's city, while minimizing the environmental and social impact.
We, the team, decided to propose to embed a permeable urban cocoon. The design of the school is like a sort of autonomous ‘village’ condition, the radial layout of classroom, administration, medical, apartment modules is wrapped around a central public courtyard. This configuration not only creates privacy from the main public domain, it also shelters and protects the school from wind and dust. Multi-sport grounds can be practically used as an amphitheater At the center of the courtyard accommodating informal gatherings as well as formal assemblies and celebrations for the school and community as a whole.
The village’s principle is guided by the speed of the execution and repetitions of the modules. The walls of these modules are made from local earthen, can be easily cut and shaped into bricks. The material functions really well as a wall system for the classrooms because of its thermal capabilities. This, in combination with the overhanging roofs, lowers the temperature of the interior spaces exponentially. Another major factor that helps naturally ventilate and illuminate the interiors is a massive undulating ceiling. Overall, one of the most important goals of the design is to serve as a catalyst to inspire the children, teaching staff, and surrounding community members.
The architecture not only functions as an imprint in the landscape, it is also a testament to how local materials, in combination with creativity and team-work, can be transformed into something significant with profound lasting effects. This permeable educational city can evolve with its current and future environment to come to spread itself as a cell of independent life with its own cultivations, its own energy.”