Nestled Bowl
The mainconcept of the design deals with two contrasting ideas autonomy and unity. Autonomy in a way thatthe main programmatic spaces are their ownseparate spaces yet unified by forming the focal point that is nestled at thelowest part of the site. This focal point is a multipurpose amphitheaterwhich ties in all the programs together to create unity.
Due to the conditions in Abeche materials are limitedso the main material is derived from the site itself.
Through excavating the dirt toform the contours it is then reused for the rammed earth walls and mudbricks.
However not all the materialscan come from the site such as rebar, concrete, corrugated metal, and recycled
styrofoam. The different layers of the building can becompared to the idea of a basket of a bowl. When looking
at a basket it is very dense atthe bottom and becomes porous towards the top. Similarly the building starts
with dense rammed earth layersfollowing by a lighter layer of mudbricks where the open rebar truss systemsits allowing the light to enter thespace.
Through a series of mud brick materials studies withadditives of ceramics and wires, some details within
the building are inspired fromthese additives such as the water catchment bricks and wire paneling systems.
The water catchment bricks arepunched out of the spaces and layered to create a cascading affect to collect
rain water from the roofs. These bricks have bowls that are embeddedinside to direct rain down to the next
brick; this then leads down toa gravel pond that is used to filter the water and bring it to an undergroundstorage system. Through the studies of the wires detachingitself from the brick it was then translated to a more structural element that can span theclassroom space. Panels then hang off ofthe rods creating a parting wall system allowing the space to beadaptable to different classroom settings.
Due to the conditions in Abeche materials are limitedso the main material is derived from the site itself.
Through excavating the dirt toform the contours it is then reused for the rammed earth walls and mudbricks.
However not all the materialscan come from the site such as rebar, concrete, corrugated metal, and recycled
styrofoam. The different layers of the building can becompared to the idea of a basket of a bowl. When looking
at a basket it is very dense atthe bottom and becomes porous towards the top. Similarly the building starts
with dense rammed earth layersfollowing by a lighter layer of mudbricks where the open rebar truss systemsits allowing the light to enter thespace.
Through a series of mud brick materials studies withadditives of ceramics and wires, some details within
the building are inspired fromthese additives such as the water catchment bricks and wire paneling systems.
The water catchment bricks arepunched out of the spaces and layered to create a cascading affect to collect
rain water from the roofs. These bricks have bowls that are embeddedinside to direct rain down to the next
brick; this then leads down toa gravel pond that is used to filter the water and bring it to an undergroundstorage system. Through the studies of the wires detachingitself from the brick it was then translated to a more structural element that can span theclassroom space. Panels then hang off ofthe rods creating a parting wall system allowing the space to beadaptable to different classroom settings.
Classroom showing paneling system
Circulation
compost farming
