Naume Children's Foundation
Under Construction
2017 -
Gulu, Uganda
210.000 sqm (Area of intervention)
Naume-Kinderstiftung
Set on a 20-hectare site outside Gulu, northern Uganda, the Naume-Kinderstiftung will provide a community of up to 700 children with all the amenities they need for their growth and education.
At the heart of the site are the school buildings, which are arranged as three-pointed stars, creating three small courtyards in each complex. These connect to form one large space where students of different ages can interact. To the west the canteen is planned as space for the whole community to gather. A string of dining rooms wind around the softly sloping site, while a spectacular truss structure occupies the central space. This provides shelter from sun and rain and a place for performances and celebrations to take place. The entrance to the campus is marked by an administrative building, which creates a strong visual identity from the outside. To the north of the site, dormitories offer space for students to sleep and unwind. To foster a greater sense of intimacy and belonging, the large complex is divided into smaller groups of four blocks, which are also arranged around courtyards where students can gather, as they would in a traditional compound. A similar model is replicated to the south of the site, on a smaller scale, for the teachers’ housing.
The entire project is modular: single units such as bedrooms, classrooms and dining rooms are standardised for ease of construction. However, the design means this is not immediately apparent as their asymmetric arrangement creates an organic composition. This system allows the project to be built incrementally, adapting to the gradual availability of funds, while also creating an opportunity to improve building techniques with each successive unit by applying lessons learned.
Set on a 20-hectare site outside Gulu, northern Uganda, the Naume-Kinderstiftung will provide a community of up to 700 children with all the amenities they need for their growth and education.
At the heart of the site are the school buildings, which are arranged as three-pointed stars, creating three small courtyards in each complex. These connect to form one large space where students of different ages can interact. To the west the canteen is planned as space for the whole community to gather. A string of dining rooms wind around the softly sloping site, while a spectacular truss structure occupies the central space. This provides shelter from sun and rain and a place for performances and celebrations to take place. The entrance to the campus is marked by an administrative building, which creates a strong visual identity from the outside. To the north of the site, dormitories offer space for students to sleep and unwind. To foster a greater sense of intimacy and belonging, the large complex is divided into smaller groups of four blocks, which are also arranged around courtyards where students can gather, as they would in a traditional compound. A similar model is replicated to the south of the site, on a smaller scale, for the teachers’ housing.
The entire project is modular: single units such as bedrooms, classrooms and dining rooms are standardised for ease of construction. However, the design means this is not immediately apparent as their asymmetric arrangement creates an organic composition. This system allows the project to be built incrementally, adapting to the gradual availability of funds, while also creating an opportunity to improve building techniques with each successive unit by applying lessons learned.
