NNAMDI AZIKIWE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

BFA . DESIGN STUDIO 6 . SPRING 2018 . INSTRUCTOR: ALISON MEARS . LAGOS, NIGERIA

The entire site is divided according to this first diagram below. All public spaces border an existing pathway that would be modernized in order to become a street. The position of the educational complex was chosen based on the existing pathway as well; it lies between the more private area and the public one (market and medical center). It is also located in a higher area of the site (facilitating flood prevention).

The sense of community is one of the most important aspects of African culture. Gathering spaces, gardens and open areas create an adequate environment for students, professors and workers to live and learn from one another. The unification of different ages and diverse backgrounds of the people in the community create an empowering space for congregation. Thus, this project specializes in using three contrasting gathering spaces as focal areas of the site. All rooms have a view to the outside spaces and all buildings neighbor those areas and have access to at least one communal garden.

The site is divided into two parts: semi-private and private. The first one hosts an auditorium and a farm (specific for selling and profiting). The money from the performances and from the food sold in the markets will be 100% directed to the school maintenance. The private area consists of the school buildings, dormitories and two additional farms. The one above harvests yam, cassava and sweet potato for the students. The one below is for raising animals for milk extraction.

Publication: “Schools and Places - The transformational power of education in Lagos, Nigeria” (April 2019 - p. 82-87 - Ed. Cristina Handal & Roberto Perez Martinez)