Article 25 builds school in Niamey, Niger

 

Humanitarian architecture charity Article 25 has shared construction images from one of their latest projects in Niamey, Niger. Following their guiding philosophy to help deliver housing, schools and hospitals for communities who need it most, the UK-based charity has been working with Collège Hampaté Bâ to design new classrooms and admin facilities, which will enable the college to accommodate up to 1,200 children from primary school age right through to lycée.

article 25 builds a school in niger using locally sourced laterite stone
image by Souleymane Ag Anara

all other images courtesy of Article 25

 

 

 

built with locally sourced laterite stone 

 

The design by Article 25 prioritizes the use of local materials, adapting vernacular techniques to respond to the challenging climatic conditions, and creating beautiful, comfortable spaces conducive to learning. The classrooms have a double roof design, with vaulted earth brick ceilings below a flying metal roof. This helps mitigate the extreme heat as air is pulled through the void between the 2 roofs and sunlight is not allowed to radiate into the rooms.

 

The main building material is laterite stone; a cheap, locally available material with low embodied carbon, which represents an underutilized resource in niger. It is dug from the ground by hand in a quarry 10km outside Niamey, and hardens on contact with air to become suitable for building. During construction, local masons are being trained in how to use laterite, with the hope that the skills can be disseminated in further projects around the region.

article 25 builds a school in niger using locally sourced laterite stone
image by Souleymane Ag Anara

 

 

The proposals for the college include refurbishment of existing classrooms and the addition of five new classroom blocks (totalling 20 classrooms), along with new administrative facilities, an assembly hall, library, and latrine blocks. Upgrades to water and electrical services are also proposed in order to improve the school’s resilience to intermittent municipal supply.article 25 builds a school in niger using locally sourced laterite stone

article 25 builds a school in niger using locally sourced laterite stone article 25 builds a school in niger using locally sourced laterite stone

article 25 are building a school in niger using beautiful laterite stone 1

image © Toby Pear

article 25 are building a school in niger using beautiful laterite stone 2

image © Grant Smith

 

video courtesy of article 25

 

1/15
image © Grant Smith
image © Grant Smith
image © Grant Smith
image © Grant Smith
image © Nicolas Réméné
image © Nicolas Réméné
image © Nicolas Réméné
image © Nicolas Réméné
image © Nicolas Réméné
image © Nicolas Réméné
image © Nicolas Réméné
image © Nicolas Réméné
image © Nicolas Réméné
image © Nicolas Réméné
image by Souleymane Ag Anara
image by Souleymane Ag Anara
 
 
 
 
perspective section through the proposed library
perspective section through the proposed library
the proposed admin building adjacent to the existing school buildings
the proposed admin building adjacent to the existing school buildings
a typical proposed classroom
a typical proposed classroom

project info:

 

project name: collège hampaté bâ, niamey

project type: school refurbishment and expansion

client: collège amadou hampaté bâ

charity/design:  article 25

project partners: michael hadi associates (structural), max fordham (m&e)

funded by: collège hampaté bâ, niamey

status: in construction

 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: lynne myers | designboom