Text description provided by the architects. In need of educational infrastructure, Goodplanet foundation aims to install a preschool with bioclimatic functioning, as an extension to the existing school building.

The building is inspired by a new vernacular from local typologies, materials and techniques, with a contemporary look, performant bio-climatic functioning and earthquake proof design.

The preschool is implemented on the highest level of the compound, and gives way to a landscaped strip of playground area with benches and swings, going down the compound. The playground strip creates zones of open play area between strip and compound wall: football area, outside class area, playground area for small kids, playground area for bigger kids.

The preschool itself is pentagonal to open up space outside in relation to rectangular compound walls, and to create round space inside which can support alternative teaching techniques such as round table teaching. The area is known for lime production, as well as nature stone, resulting in the choice for lime mortared stone masonry. The roof is made of lime tadelakt on a base of earth-lime. The interior finishing is made of polished nouss-nouss, a “half-half” of earth and lime to create a breathable interior plaster which diffuses indirect sunlight. The southwest facade has a cavity wall for insulation and a big thermal mass, making the building cool during the day, but warmer through the night until the morning. The northwest to southeast facades have window openings with diagonal reveals to let in a maximum of sunlight. The building is made conform the earthquake norms of Morocco, with concrete columns next to facade openings.

© Tommaso Bisogno

• Architects

  BC architects & studies + Tommaso Bisogno

• Location

  Ait Ahmed, Morocco

• Category

  Sustainability

• Cooperation

  KULeuven faculty of architecture (Kaushik Keshava Ramanuja, Marie Moens and Rene de Rijk)

• Client

  Goodplanet Foundation + Association d’Ait Ahmed

• Budget

  30.000 euro

• Project Year

  2017

• Photographs

  Tommaso Bisogno, Marie Moens, Rene? de Rijk