The 4833 sqm site is located in Kafountine, Casamance region, in the Senegalese hinterland. Kafoutine is a town experiencing rapid demographic growth of its population population influenced by the large movements and migratory flows connected to its port, the largest in the region. The increase in population has challenged the city’s infrastructural system of the city and in particular the school system, with 1000 students in a single  secondary school where maximum capacity is set to 600.

Considering the current situation, the proposal fits into a flat context, prone to flooding caused by the heavy rains in the winter season, rich of vegetation which are to be preserved. Based on a 4x4m grid and the required functions, our idea involves a building consisting of three bands. The first with entrance, administrative offices, teachers’ room (20), toilets and a multipurpose space. The two inner bands with classrooms, embrace covered and open gardens, play areas and spaces dedicated to outdoor teaching.

The idea of three bands allows for the complex to be integrated into the site without affecting the existing trees,  embracing them as in an open garden, becoming meeting points in the shade of the covered courtyard where the roof is pierced by palm trees, demonstrating how vegetation is fundamental in a green school context. The composition adopted allowed us to reach the requirements of the program, identifying a possible future expansion, after the fifth phase, with an additional 4 classrooms for an extra 160 students.