Entarataambe Primary School – Campus Design Principles
Entarataambe school is founded on the values of Obuntu, the African philosophy of humanity, and the design approach follows these values to create a physical education environment that encourages and enables them to be effectively communicated through the education process.
The physical environment encompasses the natural environment of the campus, the surrounding area, as well as the buildings, equipment, artwork and displays. All these elements should combine harmoniously to create a calm and stimulating environment that supports the education process and develops an Obuntu culture at the school.
Key Design Principles:
- Layout: the campus design is arranged around a central axis that runs through the Administration Building to the School Hall, with two wings of classrooms reflected either side of this axis. The classrooms are arranged in pairs facing each other across a small garden area forming courtyard clusters of four classrooms. Each pair of classrooms has a semi-circular outdoor teaching area at the rear to provide additional spaces for active learning. These outdoor areas will have shade roofs and trees around the perimeter to provide shade and rain protection. These “schools within a school” clusters allow the different age groups to have their own place within the wider school campus
- Environment: the design moderates the internal temperature and noise from rain on metal roofs through the device of a ventilated two-layer roof. Open sided roofed verandas also moderate sun penetration and provide cool, protected areas to enter and leave classrooms. The classroom roofs are mono pitch with high level windows providing good natural light and ventilation
- Flexibility and coherence: The design is deliberately simple with rectangular classrooms arranged in symmetrical patterns to create a harmonious and coherent physical environment that is easy to navigate, provides opportunities for creative teaching and does not limit or constrain the education process
- Inclusion: All areas of the school are designed to be accessible to all users regardless of individual needs. This includes ramp access, level thresholds and wheelchair size toilet cubicles and showers
- Materials: the selected construction materials are locally produced and sustainable as far as possible and include fired bricks, stone paving, reed panels, timber doors and windows. These are not fundamental to the design however, and other materials may be selected in other contexts depending on availability and budget, but should follow the principles of environmental sustainability
- Quality: the school aims to create a high quality and attractive environment that reflects the value in which we hold our pupils and staff and encourages an attitude that respects and cares for their environment.