Project Update – School infrastructure from local resources, Vele and Vryheid, South Africa

Natural environment: Even during the construction process, the surrounding vegetation is handled with much care. Green roofs will provide insulation and wildlife habitat.

Holcim Awards Acknowledgement prize 2008 Africa Middle East
Overview Seven Fountains Primary School in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa has recently won an Award for Excellence from the South African Institute of Architects and the construction of Vele High School is progressing well towards completion in early 2011.
Main author Steve Kinsler and Derek van Heerden, architects, East Coast Architects, Durban, South Africa and Gregg Sherkin, Oprah’s Angel Network, Chicago, USA

Project wins Award for Excellence from the South African Institute of Architects
In 2010 only three buildings received the Awards for Excellence which the South African Institute of Architects (SAIA) bestows on exceptional design practices every two years. The Seven Fountains Primary School in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa was one of the three projects honored with this award.

The project was commended by the SAIA for moving away from the one-size-fits-all practice of parachuting blueprint-based structures into rural areas, and allowing for the architecturally-guided emergence of a school organically connected to the community that built it and which it serves. The choice of materials for the site was informed by a skills and materials audit conducted at an early stage within the township.

“Sustainability on a holistic, social, economic and ecological level was well exhibited in this delightful project”, the citation stated.

Construction progresses on schools network
Lakeside Primary School also in KwaZulu-Natal Province was due to start construction by the end of 2010.
Vele High School in a deep rural, mountainous region of the Limpopo Province of South Africa is currently under construction and is due for completion early next year. Some of the features of that project include:

• Extensive community engagement with learners, educators and local residents, including photographic and mapping workshops with learners and skills and materials audits with local residents.
• Rainwater harvesting installation with a total storage capacity of 150,000 liters.
• 50m2 of solar photovoltaics which will provide electricity for 80 computers.
• Energy measuring and monitoring system to increase energy awareness and reduce energy costs. Results also inform the Creating Schools design program.
• Labor-intensive construction techniques using local materials and skills.
• Passive and low-energy design creating naturally lit and ventilated classrooms that are warm in winter and cool in summer.
• Green roofs provide insulation and wildlife habitat.
• Campus layout designed to facilitate shared use of school facilities by local community and surrounding schools.
• Food gardens to supplement the school nutrition program.
• Explicit design and construction features integrated into the school curriculum

To improve building skills the project includes an extensive community engagement with learners, educators and local residents.

Further details and photos are available in the progress report PDF below.
Progress report November 2010 – Vele High School (PDF, 4.6MB)

Project background
Education is an important building block of sustainable development. The project transforms schools into community centers of lifelong learning. Here, sustainable livelihoods training can take place – energy efficiency, renewable energy use, rainwater harvesting and local food production are all part of the program.

Last updated: December 30, 2010