24°33'00.2"S 32°59'10.8"E | Studio Mozambique | Maged Guerguis
Hlaueka Primary School | Chokwe, Mozambique
The big idea behind this Assembly Hall project, is to provide a space for gathering and community to flourish within the Hlauleka Primary School. The school is responsible for cooking and serving hundreds of meals a day to the primary school and high school students. Despite classrooms dispersed through the campus, there is not a singular communal gathering space for this to take place. This new construction will provide space for just that and hopefully more. Being situated adjacent to the new kitchen building for the school will allow for easier transport, distribution and service of meals for students and staff. The location is also centralized enough that it could create a hub for gathering at different times of day. This space is meant to be for everyone to use and enjoy. The open space on the interior and the use of flexible, movable furniture allow for this space to transform into more than a dining hall if need be. It could be used for assembly, group activities and more.
The impact of this space on the environment and ecosystems surrounding it are minimal. The use of a French drain system surrounding the buildings foundations, allow for the excess of rainwater to be evacuated from the area into a drainage canal off site. When designing this space, it was important to be mindful of tree coverage throughout the site and to not unnecessarily remove mature trees that would provide shade or areas for immersion with nature. Because of this there was an opportunity to create a garden space within the building extents / enclosure. Operable windows and breezeway walls allow for open air to flow through the space, while also shielding inhabitants from the elements. As far as being adaptable for change, the design of this space is an open floor plan concept, meaning that space is abundant and can be configured in whatever manner necessary for whatever activities may be taking place (ie. assembly, dining, games, group activities, etc.).
