Bangkok-based architect Jun Sekino designed these elevated classrooms in northern Thailand in response to a serious earthquake, which destroyed the school’s original building (+ slideshow).
The earthquake struck Chiang Rai Province in Might 2014, ruining 73 schools and leaving in excess of 2,000 college students without classrooms. A programme was set up by charity Design and style for Disasters (D4D) to develop nine earthquake-resistant schools in the worst affected areas.
Jun Sekino was one particular of the nine Thai architects asked to participate in the task. The architect and his studio were assigned the Baan Nhong Bua College, in which pupils aged amongst 5 and ten many years previous have been learning in a makeshift structure.
“The school’s developing, which was damaged, is regarded to possess the exact same normal and pattern with other colleges in Thailand nonetheless, this pattern does not brace for the extreme natural disasters,” explained the architects.
“Due to the dilapidation of the creating, the students have been beseeched to review in a temporary pavilion that was not appropriate for studying.”
Relevant story: Shigeru Ban patterns modular shelters for Nepal earthquake victims
Like the Baan Huay Sarn Yaw College designed by Vin Varavarn Architects as part of the exact same scheme, the primary school has a steel frame and is elevated above the ground on stilts to avoid the threat of flooding.
The non-rigid frame is designed to provide a degree of versatility that could assist to absorb vibrations in long term earthquakes.
The developing features a mono-pitched roof and a broad veranda, which is partially shielded from the aspects by the overhanging roof and bamboo screens. This region is used by pupils and teachers to get rid of and retailer shoes before coming into the principal building.
The architects picked inexpensive and fast-to-assemble resources for the undertaking, employing corrugated plastic sheeting for windows and room dividers, and cement board for walls and shelving.
Two pairs of classrooms are set on both side of a wide corridor that divides the developing in half. A strip of corrugated plastic inserted beneath the sloping roof assists to naturally light the grey classrooms.
“The creating is designed to correspond with the weather problem of the northern component of Thailand which allows the circulation of all-natural air, and the penetration of organic light into the developing,” explained the studio.
“The creating demanded to have pavilion-like physical appearance in correspondence with the rural architecture in which the ceiling is elevated in purchase to enable the normal light to penetrate by means of the classrooms throughout daytime.”
The rooms are formed by bamboo and corrugated plastic partitions affixed to the steel framework, which means the school has the possible to be adapted in the potential to suit the needs of the college.
“The most considerable notion is the developable design and style for the true users college students and teachers,” stated the architects. “In many years to come, the users will be capable to change the functions according to their own demand.”
Earlier this 12 months architects Charles Lai and Takehiko Suzuki developed a prototype shelter for earthquake victims in Nepal. The bamboo-framed shelter could be constructed by unskilled builders with the support of a manual in just three days.
Task description:
Architect: Jun Sekino
Venture organiser: Design and style for Catastrophe (D4D)
Engineers: Next Innovation Engineering, The Engineering Institute of Thailand and The Consulting Engineers Association of Thailand
Collaborators: Thai Contractors Association, Association of Siamese Architects
Assembly diagram – click for greater picture 
Materiality diagram – click for more substantial image 
Classroom plan – click for more substantial image 
Strategy – click for bigger picture 
Roof prepare – click for bigger picture 
