Studio Mortazavi Designs World’s First 3D-Printed School To Be Built In Madagascar

The school will be built using the 3D printing technology, and local materials, including several sustainable measures like vertical farms.

Project:
Building Minds

Location:
Fianarantsoa,
Madagascar

Architects:
Studio Mortazavi

Typology:
Schools

Client: Thinking Huts

Images: Studio Mortazavi via Thinking Huts

Studio Mortazavi’s proposal for the school revolves around the concept of modularity and multiplication: By its hybrid form, halfway between circular and hexagonal, the thinking hut is functional both individually and as an ensemble. The pilot school will be built through a combination of partnerships managed by Thinking Huts, a non-profit organization founded by Maggie Grout.

The structure of the school allows interconnecting the pods into infinite rooms for a myriad of uses such as lectures, music studios, art classes, physical education, indoor farming, and even housing. The proposed 3D printed school will be a single story building of approximately 1,700 square feet, that can accommodate between 30 to 40 students, and space for other functions such as library, reading area etc..

Each pod is equipped with a water catchment system along with solar panels, making them as self-sufficient as possible. The design of the hut was lead by the idea of a “double skin”, allowing its walls, interior, and exterior, to be used as a learning medium. Thus, these 3D printed exterior walls are refined in places to accommodate outdoor libraries, creative spaces, vertical farms, climbing walls, and art exhibition walls. The center will be kept open, reducing the cement required while adding structural integrity and allowing any insulation. A vertical farm and solar panels will further support sustainability.

The envelope, printed in clay, uses natural pigments from the local African landscape and is therefore coexisting in perfect harmony with its environment. On its vertical surface, the pod sports traditional African motifs serving two functions: A decorative function, paying homage to the vernacular of Madagascar with a simple relief of the pattern, but also a ventilation function on the upper part of the wall where the pattern becomes perforation, allowing air to circulate freely through the walls.

The estimated elapsed time to ‘print’ a 2,000 square foot single storey structure is 22 hours. The wall produced during the 3D printing process will be 27 times stronger than a sun dried clay brick, 3.5 times stronger than a kiln fired clay brick and 2 times as strong as standard concrete. This strength provides much more resistance to decay and structural failure of the wall than the use of clay bricks (kiln fired or sun dried) or even than traditional concrete. This is key to keeping students safe and maximizing the useful life of the building.

3D printing will make the construction of schools significantly faster while the locally sourced materials will have positive economic impacts as well. The low-environmental impact design of the school will be more durable and will require fewer repairs. The training of the labour for the technology transfer will open up opportunities for additional usage of the technology in other non-school related areas, this in turn would seed new skills and occupations. The school will also create custodial and administrative job opportunities once completed.

You can now help with the fundraising for the school’s launch set for November.

Project Images