studio FH adds dormitories and classrooms to a college campus in uganda

in uganda, studio FH architects has completed a dormitory space for a college in the town of mityana. the project also includes the addition of two classrooms and kitchens, as well as the refurbishment of the site’s previously existing teaching and accommodation buildings. local materials and construction techniques were used throughout the design, including manually compressed stabilized soil blocks, largely made from earth sourced on site, and eucalyptus wood for the buildings’ roofs and shading screens.

all images by will boase

as RUCID (rural community in development) is a privately run college for organic agriculture, the institution’s management has a keen interest in eco solutions. consequently, studio FH designed all buildings with decentralized rainwater harvesting systems, while kitchens are fitted fuel-efficient wood stoves. the project was built by local teams contracted on a labor basis and overseen by an in-house construction manager.

local materials and construction techniques were used throughout

the buildings were designed in collaboration with light earth designs who prepared the masterplan as well as the schematic designs of the dormitory courtyards. studio FH added the pentagon-shaped classrooms, detailed all buildings and oversaw the construction on site. the project was directly funded by the tudor trust, a UK-based independent grant-making trust.

the project includes the addition of two classrooms and kitchens

the scheme was built by local teams contracted on a labor basis

the project creates new dormitory space for 72 students

manually compressed stabilized soil blocks were used to construct the buildings

eucalyptus wood has been used for the roofs and shading screens

rainwater harvesting systems have been installed

kitchens are fitted fuel-efficient wood stoves

the project is part of a larger masterplan

the project is located in the ugandan town of mityana

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project info:

architect: studio FH architects and light earth designs (masterplan and dormitory schematics)
landscape designer: the landscape studio
structural engineer: edson agume
quantity surveyor: wilson sendikwanawa
contractor: various teams
photography: will boase photography
location: mityana, uganda
area: 1,270 sqm (new), 840 sqm (refurbished)
project year: 2017