The idea of this project arises from the urgent need to provide vulnerable communities in Zambia with safe, inclusive, and inspiring environments that support healing, learning, and connection. The Gardens Beyond is inspired by the concept of nature as a caregiver and the belief that outdoor spaces can play a transformative role in education, emotional well-being, and community building. The goal is to create a resilient public space that fosters growth, dignity, and interaction across generations—an open campus where the journey itself becomes a learning experience through playful, therapeutic, and cultural landscapes.

This project consists of a network of outdoor spaces connected by a symbolic red path called the bande folle, which guides users through different thematic areas. These include an outdoor firepit for storytelling and gathering, open-air workshops and exposition areas, a colorful playground, a Venetian water well, reflective water seating zones, shaded outdoor classrooms, sports courts with seating, and interactive gym stations. The main area is designed to act as a central community anchor, with every space encouraging participation, reflection, or play. The layout promotes fluidity, discovery, and connection with nature, while respecting local culture and daily needs.

The construction of the project is based on sustainable and locally available materials, primarily ICEB (Interlocking Compressed Earth Blocks), wood, and concrete. ICEB offers excellent thermal insulation, low environmental impact, and allows for easy, mortar-free assembly—ideal for community-led building processes. Wood is used for shading structures, roofing, and outdoor furniture, bringing a warm, organic character to the spaces. Concrete is applied strategically in structural foundations and in the formation of the continuous red path, which acts as a connective and symbolic gesture throughout the site.

The project integrates passive environmental systems, including rainwater collection and natural ventilation. A key feature is a qanat-inspired cooling strategy: collected water is channeled beneath the classrooms, where it flows through shallow conduits. Small ventilation holes (2.5 cm in diameter) are positioned in the floors above, allowing cool, fresh air to rise into the spaces, thus naturally ventilating and cooling the interior. This ancient principle, reinterpreted for a contemporary educational setting, enhances comfort while reducing the need for mechanical systems—aligning with the project’s sustainable, low-tech philosophy.