The Oleleshwa Primary School design tackles issues related to durability of Maasai nomadic construction, integration of modern materials, and a focus on natural lighting, natural ventilation, and occupant safety, while respecting the aesthetic of traditional Maasai architecture. Photo of the school from afar.

Oleleshwa Primary School

Institutional Building

Year:                       2009 to 2013
Location:              Ewaso Ngiro, Narok, Kenya
Co-designer:       Karl Sarkis
Photography:     Axel Fassio
Recognition:       Aga Khan Award for Architecture – Anonymously Nominated
                                Architecture Association of Kenya – Finalist Best Educational
                                Kenyan Energy Management Awards – 2nd Runner Up Green Building

The Maasai people of Kenya have traditionally lived in communities of less than 100 people living a nomadic lifestyle based on transhumanance.  With the distribution of land to individual families in the mid-nineties, the Maasai have been forced to live a more permanent life in growing towns and on permanent farms.  Harambee 4 Humanity is working collaboratively with the Ewaso Ngiro community to design and build a school and community hub to assist in redefining its way of life.

The classroom design tackles issues related to durability of Maasai nomadic construction, integration of available modern materials to improve rather than hinder functionality, and a focus on natural lighting, natural ventilation, and occupant safety, while respecting the aesthetic of traditional Maasai architecture.  To ensure access to education for children of both genders, features such as rainwater collection allow girls to attend school and take water home from the cistern instead of walking all day to obtain the family’s water.