'play follows farm' for T R radhakrishnan's school proposal in rural tanzania

principles of self-sustenance and learning through play lie at the heart of this school proposal by indian architect, T R radhakrishnan. designed as part of an international competition launched by c-re-aid, the finalist-winning scheme blends with the rural landscape of tanzania‘s moshi district to create a learning environment that embraces the surrounding nature and enriches early childhood development.

approach

images by missing picture

the competition was launched in partnership with jubilant school and orphanage located in the kilimanjaro region. the brief called for the design and construction of a nursery school for orphans from 3 to 6 years old. the main aim of the project is to create a sustainable space where kids can start their educational journey feeling at home; a space to learn, discover, and play.

entrance

T R radhakrishnan‘s proposal looks to africa’s traditional settlements, where self-sustaining communities are grounded to the land. embracing these values, the proposed school merges with surrounding farmlands to allow the actions of the farm to become activities of play. by doing so, the project anchors its value on the belief that the future lies in self-sustenance.

play follows farm

alongside self-sustenance, the design also looks to play as the most integral function of the pre-school. the scheme takes advantage of the open, unadulterated rural context of moshi district to make learning an experience unbounded by the limitations of a classroom.

extended farm

the programs take the form of a boundary wall to create safe, inclusive, well lit, and ventilated spaces. this arrangement forms a central sloping void that blurs with the banana grove. a series of punctures are created in the bounding volume for circulation. the plinth responds to the sloping topography; with a series of stepped terraces that houses flexible classroom activities. the roof slopes down toward the farm and the walls are kept as simple extrusions with louvered openings facing the farm/play area. the structure is conceived using interlocking compressed earth blocks along with local timber. 

classroom

site plan

actions of the farm as play activities

sections

wall detail

project info:

project name: play follows farm

location: moshi district, tanzania

competition: earth architecture competition: a school for tanzania

client: jubilant orphanage

architect: T R radhakrishnan

visualizations: missing picture

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