by BC ARCHITECTS + MAMOTH
rammed earth • Volume 7
The preschool of Aknaibich in Morocco has only one classroom, nevertheless its design is a success due to its holistic architectural design, incorporating community dynamics, bioclimatics and a new vernacular style as an extension to the existing concrete school building in the modern part of town.
CONTEXT
The town the school sits within is made of earthy constructions, rough roads and narrow alleys, in juxtaposition the western part exists of modern, plot-based concrete houses built by rural-urban emigrants.
CONCEPT
It's style could be called a new vernacular, as its inspired by local typologies, materials and techniques, while at the same time having a contemporary look, performant bio-climatic functioning and earthquake proof design - a design that responds to the dual typology in the town whilst offering more
MATERIALITY
The preschool has traditionally inclined foundations of locally sourced nature stone, with Adobe walls, a wood-and-earth flat roof and rammed earth enclosure walls. The exterior finishing is done with a “tamelass" render, a mix of two earths, straw and sand, while the interior finishing is made of polished “half-half" of earth and gypsum to create a breathable interior plaster which diffuses indirect sunlight
ENVIRONMENTAL
The east and west facades which have harsh low-sun impacts due to its proximity to the equator are doubled-up with a cavity wall for insulation. The south façade has deep, small windows and a big thermal mass, making the building cool during the day, but warmer through the night until the morning. The north façade has been maximally opened up with glass doors to allow indirect sunlight to enter the room
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