KASHITU SECONDARY SCHOOL

Idea projektu

The core idea behind the urban design of the Kashitu school campus is to create an open, community-oriented, and dignified educational environment that naturally emerges from the local context—cultural, natural, and social. The goal is not only to design functional educational infrastructure, but to establish a space that is co-created with the local community, rooted in its traditions, and growing with it. Inspiration was drawn from traditional African rural construction, which respects the local climate and social structures—for example, by separating functions into multiple smaller buildings logically and sensitively placed within the landscape. The proposal is based on principles of clarity, accessibility, openness, and flexibility. The school is conceived as more than a place for teaching; it functions as a cultural and social center for the region—a place for gathering, sharing, and fostering a relationship with the land, landscape, and society.

Popis projektu

The school campus is designed as a set of interconnected pavilions grouped into functional zones, including administrative areas, classrooms, community spaces, student accommodation, and housing for teachers. Each function is assigned to a separate building, which aligns with African architectural tradition and also allows for phased construction and future expansion. The primary compositional element is a prominent longitudinal axis that runs through the entire site, serving not only as a circulation route but also a symbolic gesture—dividing the campus into a boys' and girls' section, while rhythmically organizing the placement of buildings. Along this axis are located key architectural landmarks: the entrance gate, reception area, park, community building, and bell tower, which serves as the vertical accent of the campus. The entire layout follows a spatial gradient—from public zones at the front (administration, healthcare, classrooms), through the social center, to quieter, more private areas for student and teacher housing. This concept allows for intuitive orientation, natural movement, and a clear distinction between public and private uses. An essential component of the design is the use of in-between spaces—shaded atriums, green strips, vistas, and courtyards that encourage spontaneous encounters, user interaction, and a connection to the surrounding landscape. Thus, the architecture does not merely offer isolated buildings but creates a living spatial organism that responds to daily life and the dynamic needs of the school.

Technické informace

The urban composition of the school is based on a clear structure and functional logic. The main axis serves as the backbone of movement and orientation, connecting individual functional clusters and facilitating easy circulation for students, staff, and visitors. It is designed for both pedestrian use and operational access. Secondary paved paths provide entry to all buildings and subtly define the functional zones without disrupting the openness and coherence of the campus. The arrangement of the buildings considers cardinal orientation, prevailing winds, and the need for shading and ventilation. The administrative zone is located at the entrance and acts as a filter between public and educational space. It is followed by the educational area with classrooms and workshops, the centrally located social building, and progressively more peaceful accommodation zones. Teachers’ houses are placed at the far end of the site and separated by a green buffer, which also serves as a reserve for future school expansion. The entire design allows for phased development—for example, the roof structure of the community space or educational blocks can be built in the first stage and already serve their purpose. Thanks to the simple layout and selected materials, the design is easy to implement using local resources and can be adjusted to current capacity needs. The urban plan is therefore not only functional and flexible but also long-term sustainable and economically efficient.