The first stone of the Georges Malaika Foundation (GMF) School was laid on October 27th, 2009, in Kalebuka, a small village on the outskirts of Lubumbashi. Lubumbashi, the capital of Katanga Province and the second largest city in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has more than doubled in size in the last five years. GMF has undertaken this project to address the growing need for new schools; currently the children of Kalebuka Village have no school to attend. The project goal of GMF and studioMDA was to design a school that meets the educational needs of its students, as well as offers a sustainable and high performance design model for new schools in the region.

The school’s design utilizes environmental analysis with appropriate technologies to achieve a range of sustainability goals such as passive ventilation and natural light. Most construction materials will be sourced locally, including compressed soil bricks, made from soil on site, avoiding the use of burned bricks which have been largely responsible for widespread deforestation in the region.
Double roofs catch the breeze, inducing natural ventilation. Large overhangs on the roofs create ample shading, preventing direct light from striking the glazing and consequently heating up the building interior.

Photovoltaic panels contribute to the school’s energy independence. Constructed wetlands will clean black and grey water generated by the school, allowing water to be re-used for landscape irrigation and educational agriculture. A rainwater catchment system will collect water for small gardens and other learning landscapes throughout the site.