barrel-vaulted primary school in mali by LEVS architecten

barrel-vaulted primary school in mali by LEVS architecten
all images courtesy of LEVS architecten

standing at the edge of a village in the vast plain of mali’s dogon country, this primary school deigned by LEVS architecten comprises three classrooms, a principal’s office, a depot and a sanitary building. working closely with local students, the contractor and the craftsman were involved with all stages of the construction process, with many methods linked to ancient techniques, traditions and know-how.

the building is flanked by two porches that serves as structural supports for the barrel-vaulted design

the building is flanked by two porches that serves as structural supports for the barrel-vaulted design. the school is primarily constructed from hydraulic compressed earth blocks (HCEB), which are produced using the site’s existing soil, which significantly reduces production costs. in order to achieve a waterproof layer, the roof canopy has been covered by a thin film of red earth, mixed with 6% cement.

see another malian school completed by LEVS architecten, here.

in order to achieve a waterproof quality, the roof canopy has been covered by a thin layer of red earth

the school is primarily constructed from hydraulic compressed earth blocks

local children gathered under the shade of the porch

the scheme comprises three classrooms, a principal’s office, a depot and a sanitary building

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project info:

location: village of tanouan ibi in the land of the dogon, mali, africa
GFA: 360 sqm
program: primary school with three classrooms for 180 pupils, office and depot, night school for women
client: foundation dogon education (SDO)
contractor: enterprise dara (sevaré, mopti) in collaboration with students of the lycée technique in sevaré and with the local population of tanouan ibi
photography: LEVS architecten