Human Settlements Review - Parliamentary Monitoring Group

Human Settlements Review, Volume 1, Number 1, 2010
The system devised relies on a pad foundation
system. Cast on beds of aggregated these
are joined by a stepping ring beam at natural
ground level. This approach addresses the
clay and brick founding conditions, saves on
excavation and underground walling, whilst
establishing a somewhat over structured base
on which to build the enclosure. T-shape
quoining columns emerge and rise to door
height where a second ring beam is connected
to reinforced corner columns created from
concrete filled blockwork. The material for
infil between columns is locally sourced;
stone in rural mountainous areas, brick in the
lowlands where local brickfields are at hand
and blockwork where local enterprises exist.
The employment of local artisans ensures
economic
The grid of 1,630m is derived from a combination
of the block column plus a standard school
pivot type window, as well as the maximum
spacing possible for a labour intensive site
manufactured roof trusses. Corrugated iron
roof sheeting is interrupted by clear paxit fibre
glass sheeting at on the south the ridge to
enable ‘free’ overhead even daylight during
the school sessions. The underside is line
with sisalation silver foil providing insulation
and a ceiling finish, enabling the lowering of
the wall heights. Where stone infil has been
utilised an individual identity is created by the
craftsperson, whilst the rear panel requires
plaster and painting and provides a small but
defined site for learning and skilling of new
workers. In schools where the community
is organised and motivated an extra ‘shell’
classroom is added providing for an outdoor
shelter for dining, teaching, gathering, etc.
Ultimately it affords the opportunity for an
additional classroom, requiring only the infil
of the space between the quoined columns;
work which is directly related to capacity within
the community and therefore immanently
realisable.
Where sites are cramped and land is scarce,
for instance in older urban schools, the
allocated classrooms have been placed on
the upper level. Similar to the case with the
rural ‘shell’ classroom, the lower floor is
prepared for later enclosure thereby affording
densification of urban areas and the retention
of exceptionally valuable outdoor playing and
recreation space. It is easier to ‘build down’
than to build upward in extending a building,
and the additional investment required to
facilitate this type of extention is well spent.
It leverages economic, spatial sand technical
capacity contributing to an integrated basis
for sustainable development. This approach
brings a new dimension to community
participation as a living continuous process
that is driven directly by internal needs and
capacity of the community affected.
The 1,630m quoined columnar grid building
system also lends itself to different forms of
combination. Different building types that
respond to the growing needs of these basic
schools become possible. Science Laboratories
and Domestic Science Workrooms can be
achieved through small modifications and
the incorporation of appropriate equipment
and servicing. Special functions such as
Offices, Staffrooms, Libraries, Kitchens and
Ablutions lend themselves to more advanced
interpretations of the construction system.
These as smaller, individual buildings provide
a basis for more complex training programs.
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