The Dwabor kindergarten is a modular, scalable design. It maximises daylight and ventilation while minimising heat and noise.
Sustainable materials are used wherever possible – demonstrating to the local community how bamboo, coconut husks and even soil can be transformed into durable and cost-effective building materials.
The school’s distinctive metal roof collects rainwater for reuse. Inside the roof, fibres from coconut husks deaden the noise from rain and prevent downpours from interrupting classes. When the sun shines, colourful slatted bamboo windows can pivot to let in light without any glare.
For the walls, soil stabilised blocks proved stronger during tests than concrete (sandcrete) blocks bought locally. When concrete was used, pozzolana made from fired palm kernels replaced Portland cement. This reduced both cost and environmental impact.
Children at the kindergarten also have the opportunity to learn from their environment. As well as flexible inside space that is perfect for activity-based learning and learning through play, the school has outdoor learning areas. Here the natural environment becomes a teaching aid as children explore the world around them.