KURANDZA LEARNING CENTER

This design starts from the site's existing conditions and aims to retain vegetation to the greatest extent possible. The building intentionally avoids all trees. And around the trees, courtyard spaces of different sizes are generated. The sloping roof element is inspired by the local traditional architectural elements in Uganda. In the design, the continuous sloping roof can provide sun shading and rain protection for circulation between the different building blocks. Rainwater captured in the channel between the two roof slopes is directed to the courtyards in the rainy season, where planting helps filter it before it enters an underground cistern. To support deliveries and daily access, the kitchen and multi-functional classroom sit near the road. In the southern hemisphere, north light and preserved trees create shade for the event space and shifting shadows in the courtyards. A playground wraps the site's largest tree at the north end. Interwoven courtyards improve daylight and natural ventilation, while the northwest-facing roof planes host solar panels for greater efficiency. The building uses common, locally available materials and construction methods suited to local labor skills. Walls are made from mud bricks fired from local soil, allowing community members and students to help produce materials for future school expansions. The roof is corrugated sheet metal supported by a continuous timber truss system, helping keep costs low.