Project description
A fundamental element of this school project, Sekolah Alam Baki child-friendly learning located in central Java, is its pedagogic concept that strongly respects children’s rights. A focus is laid on imbuing all elements of the school program with the theme of respect for nature, such as through the teaching of sustainable farming methods and the principles of hydroponics. On a socio-economic level, the school is integrated within the local fabric and enables an on-site market involving the local community who also share in the educational benefits. The layout of the school complex reflects the holistic theoretical background. Immediate school functions, agricultural areas and market places are integrated with high density on the site. The buildings are fabricated mainly from local materials and the efficient footprint area of the design appropriates less than 5% of the site area, thus maximizing the site availability for organic farming. Vegetation, integrated into façades and acting as an educational tool, contributes to shading and is combined with natural ventilation. The water concept includes rainwater collection and storage supplemented by the use of up to 85% of the site’s grey water.
Comment of the Holcim Awards jury Asia Pacific
The jury commended this project because of its visionary rethinking of merging density with simplicity. This balancing act is not only well-resolved on a structural level but also on a contextual level. Urbanity, meaning its positive intellectual attributes, is transferred to the countryside and merged with the rural “genius loci” (inherent spirit of place). Well-composed spacing underlines this idea. The selection of materials including concrete, bamboo and reclaimed wood; and well-elaborated design of the buildings go hand in hand with the school’s pedagogic framework. The essences of its integral elements make this project exemplary.