........... Namibia ............. ....Willem Steenkamp ......

Wim Steenkamp, Windhoek, Namibia : Glenn Murcutt Master Class 2012

[ school : remote location : robust : concrete : steel : masonry ]

Nakayale Private Academy, Ruacana, Namibia

Wim and Endri Steenkamp Architects

Nakayale Private Academy is a coeducational primary school situated near Ruacana in northern Namibia, near to the border with Angola. The school has facilities for a 120 students, which include 8 classrooms, boys and girls hostels and teachers accommodation.

The Main hall has a large communal fire pit which becomes the heart of the school, as a gathering, cooking and social space.

The administration building sits amongst the trees and forms an arrival point. A paved walkway links to the school hall, and other buildings. The building clusters are connected along walkways with strategic pedestrian nodes.

The buildings are placed around existing trees with central and secondary courtyards. Setting out was done on a grid to ease changes on site around the trees.

The structure of the individual buildings reflects the Indigenous “exo-skeleton” way of building and large roof overhangs provide shade. Other passive ways of controlling heat is through the thick thermal mass walls and natural ventilation.

Translucent sheets in classrooms and hall allow for sufficient natural light during the day.

Steel screens provide security as well as shade and ventilation, and give the learners a direct connection to nature. Low seating activates the edges of the buildings.

Materials were chosen on cost, availability and limited skills of the builders.

Finishes were also selected to be robust and low maintenance.

Photography : Wim Steenkamp and Mariette Boltman

Wim and Endri Steenkamp Architects -

http://www.wessdesign.com

www.ozetecture.org

Lindsay Johnston29 June 2016

Juan Carlos Eugene Soler : Glenn Murcutt Master Class 2001

54th Central Glass International Design Competition, Tokyo, Japan

‘Architecture That Generates New Sakariba’ - 2019

The Japanese ‘Central Glass International Design Competitions’ have been run each year since 1966. The 2019 competition attracted 188 international entries. Seven were shortlisted and Eugene’s entry was placed second.

[ theoretical proposition, metaphor, solar energy, technology, sustainability, community ]

‘MOON LANDING’

It is in our deepest primal instinct as social beings that people gather in a communal place that gives us a sense of culture and belonging. We gather around the warmth and wonder of campfire under the stars and share memories and stories. Or by day, under the cool shade of a tree- a natural place to meet a lover or exchange knowledge. Such place that delivers these conditions perhaps is the genesis of ‘Sakariba’.

The proposal is a massive balloon structure that can create and harness energy from the Sun whilst defining space underneath its volume, where people of all ages can gather to meet, play or ‘hangout’. The ‘Moon Landing’ hopes to create a central place for gathering where business and commerce are encouraged and generate ‘Sakariba’.

On a hot summer or rainy day, people can gather under its shade. On a cloudy day, the balloon structure can rise above the clouds where it can efficiently harness energy from the Sun. At night, it becomes a light source and a signal to attract people and when it descends it creates a space where people can gather around its warm glow. The ‘Moon Landing’ has all these features at the same time providing sustainable energy to its local community.

This idea is not science fiction but actually a very feasible means of efficiently combining what is currently being developed in balloon technology, sustainability, science and art. What is new is the realignment of technology to create a more poetic and meaningful purpose to reinvigoration local culture, religion, myths and stories, which is appropriate when it needs to be integrated in local communities. Especially to the 25% of the world’s population which has no or lack access to electricity. Such space offers a wonderful chance for the community to be activated, bring people together and encourage businesses and various activities.

By combining a strong metaphor with technology and sustainability- the proposal hopes to address not only the community’s basic needs but also hopes to give a deep importance and meaning in local culture and tradition to bring people together and organically for business growth and generate a ‘New Sakariba’

Moreover, in a world where we have Internet connection but seem to be ‘disconnected’- the ‘Moon Landing’ can be a benefit to existing ‘Sakariba’ not only to reduce the abundant energy we are drowning in, but also to remind us to look up and realize our place in the Universe and encourage real connection with each other.

Architect : Eugene Soler

Awards : 54th Central Glass International Design Competition _ Second Place

Web site : http://www.ateliersoler.com

OZ.E.TECTURE

architects thinking locally acting globally

www.ozetecture.org