A Nursery School in Senegal

Competitions

All projects

Architecture should support the right to education and well-being by creating the ideal psycho-physical conditions for the development of each child.

Project Site

The South of Senegal

Year

2025

SQM

500

Client

Kaira Looro

Task

International Competition

Team

Diomira Cuomo + Giada Penna

The right to education is a fundamental and inalienable human right, as established by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. However, for over 600 million children worldwide, this right is not guaranteed due to economic, political and healthcare instability, conflicts, natural disasters, stereotypes or sociocultural prejudice.

The aim of the competition is to find an architectural model for a nur- sery school that promotes the well-rounded development of children by providing a safe, stimulating and inclusive environment.

The project concept draws inspiration from traditional African tribal villages, where several independent structures—typically circular in shape—are grouped around a central courtyard dominated by a majestic, shading tree.

The desire to recreate the atmosphere of a small, self-contained village, along with the aim of creating a protective and introspective environment focused on the coolness and safety of the central courtyard, led to the choice of a circular layout, sized according to the maximum usable area. Instead of creating enclosed blocks with doors, the natural geometry of the structure has been used to create direct passages between the outer circles and the central courtyard, establishing an immediate and continuous connection with the greenery.

All rooms open inward, like the petals of a flower. The entrance area leads directly to the central courtyard and is separated by lightweight partitions and curtains, dividing it into a storage area and an infirmary.

The tree that dominates the center of the courtyard is a Mango tree, common in Senegal and well-suited for courtyards due to its medium trunk size, good shade, and relatively fast growth. The Mango’s fruits create lively splashes of color among the green foliage.

Five classrooms are situated in five separate circles, each designed for orderly and practical activities. Each classroom features its own service area, open on both sides for easy access by the young users.

Each circle has an opening facing the exterior, created by a lattice panel made of woven palm leaf fibers. While usually fixed, this panel can serve as an emergency exit. Each circle is designed as an independent module, allowing for flexible reorganization of functions in case of maintenance or temporary closure of part of the building.

The circles are not enclosed by solid upper floors; instead, the metal roofs act as large umbrellas, offering protection from sun and rain while allowing air to flow freely.