Type of project: Design and practical execution, Workshop

School: Faculty of Architecture, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
Authors: Anja Šuler, Nina Majoranc, Miha Fujs, Mojca Gabrič, Samo Kralj, Matej Perčič, Blaz Goričan, Sergej Grabnar, Mina Hiršman, Domen Fučka, Žiga Rošer, Jošt Hren, Urban Petranovič, Tomaz Lešnjak, Primož Pavšič, Jure Kolenc, Andraž Intihar, Alenka Mehle, Nina Vidič Ivančič, Miha Prosen
Tutors: Prof. Aleš Vodopivec, Anja Planišček, Tadej Gležer, Josip Konstantini
Location: Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa
Year: 2010

Awarded: 2011 Prešeren award for students / the highest Slovenian national award for scientific and cultural research

With a group of 20 students and 4 mentors from the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Ljubljana we constructed a new building in the Ithuba Skills College educational complex in the shanty town of Magagula Heights in Johannesburg; the building consists of a classroom and a workshop for 9th grade pupils and a library that will also be open to the local population.

In the (record) time of eight weeks, we constructed a building from the foundations up to the roof with our own hands, including all the equipment and installations. For the construction, we used local natural resources that were financially available to the local population. The walls were built from a mixture of clay and straw, and the ceiling from cardboard tubes. By this we wanted to show that cheaper materials can be used to make good architecture.

The building is composed of two separate volumes that are covered by a raised roof: one houses the library and the other the lavatories. Between them there is a roofed space for learning and working outdoors.

Partly contributing to the passive heating in the winter and cooling in the summer are the double windows made of standard steel frames that were designed specifically for this purpose. The raised roof provides effective casting of shade and ventilation of the space under the roof.

In the building of the school we also cooperated with local workers. The exchange of knowledge between the workers and us and the transfer of knowledge to the local community were two of the main goals of the project. Building the school does not only mean better possibilities for educating children but also represents the possibility of increasing employment and the growth of local economy.