Nursery School
Sector
Public
Location
Senegal
Year
2025
Thiago Constantino Costa
Project Type
Architecture Competition
A. Located in rural areas of southern Senegal, this project proposes a nursery school that addresses one of the community’s main needs. Many children lack access to comfortable and safe spaces during their early years. Every step of the design process was carefully planned so that children could learn, play, feel free, safe, and respected.
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Three blocks surround the large, central space. The use of spaces is guided by the students’ curiosity, instead of age, so that children can naturally move between them and choose the classroom that draws their attention. The courtyard, which is also a space for gatherings, games, relaxation, and collective activities, connects the volumes and serves as a transition space across the site.
B. When choosing the materials, key points were kept in mind, such as how well they insulate, if they are widely available, how long they last, and how they can stimulate the senses of students. The walls, made of cement, a widely used material in the region, are durable and provide good thermal control. Raised roofs allow ventilation and temperature control. Lighting control was possible with the use of bamboo, which also improved ventilation and provided shade.
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C. The use of local, simple, and available resources reduced the need for complex tools, which allows construction to be managed and carried out by the local workers, without requiring advanced techniques and complex equipment, making it feasible even in a context of limited resources. In other words, this project offers a practical and sustainable solution adapted to the region for a need that affects the community. It provides a space for care and education.
The nursery school is planned to offer much more than simple architecture. It does so not only by creating a comfortable, healthy, and sustainable learning environment, but also by preserving the region’s traditional practices and supporting the local economy by using local materials.
