The Secondary School Competition in Djilakh, Senegal

2 days ago
3 min read

We recently participated in an architectural competition for a new public secondary school in Djilakh, a rural community in Senegal. The contest aimed to explore how architecture can respond to educational needs in resource-constrained environments while remaining culturally grounded, climatically responsive, and socially transformative.

The brief challenged designers to rethink the conventional model of rural school buildings, proposing solutions that were modular, replicable, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable. Beyond simply delivering classrooms, the competition encouraged designs that turn architecture into an educational and social tool.

A pioneering school design merges sustainable architecture with education by integrating open-air classrooms, communal spaces, and agricultural activities to enhance learning and strengthen the bond with the environment. The incorporation of natural materials and a thoughtfully designed layout emphasizes harmony with nature, providing a supportive and interactive educational setting.

Our Proposal: Modular, Adaptive, and Educational

Our project proposes a new prototype for rural secondary schools in Senegal, redefining the relationship between modular efficiency and spatial richness. The design respects the standard Senegalese classroom typology while expanding it through an innovative roof and structural system that allows repetition while creating dynamic forms.

Two complementary architectural strategies define the project:

Linear classroom blocks: rational, modular, and easily replicable, forming the backbone of the school.
Organic sections: using the same materials and structural logic but allowing spatial diversity and formal expression.

This approach ensures constructability, enables phased growth over time, and transforms construction itself into an educational act; providing training opportunities for the local community and fostering knowledge transfer.

Architectural development stages of an educational facility, illustrating the transition from a modular classroom to a comprehensive design with a multipurpose room, administrative wing, and a complete portico around an open courtyard.

The Courtyard as a Social and Climatic Heart

A large central courtyard sits at the center of the design, serving as the social, climatic, and symbolic heart of the school. Defined by a porous portico, it offers shaded circulation and comfortable outdoor spaces while linking with the adjacent primary school.

The courtyard integrates multiple layers of activity: playgrounds, livestock areas, preserved trees, and communal garden plots. This creates a continuous learning landscape and transforms the courtyard into an open-air laboratory for agriculture, recreation, and environmental awareness; expanding education beyond classrooms and strengthening social cohesion.

Architectural site plan showcasing a cohesive design that integrates modular structures with natural elements. An organic roof system centers around existing trees, enhancing ecological and programmatic layers within a vibrant enclosed courtyard. This multifunctional space includes shaded gardens, a multipurpose room, classrooms, and an animal area, reflecting a harmonious blend of nature and architecture.

Sustainable school design featuring a thatched roof with bamboo trusses, optimizing rainwater runoff and thermal ventilation. The structure incorporates serpentine walls made from compressed earth blocks, supporting ambient climate control. An open courtyard with a community garden and playground enhances educational opportunities, focusing on practical and sustainable learning.

Climate-Responsive Design with Local Materials

Environmental performance is achieved through passive strategies and the use of local, low-impact materials:

Pitched thatched roofs supported by modular bamboo trusses provide deep shading and efficient thermal ventilation.
Compressed earth block walls, arranged in serpentine patterns, improve thermal mass, ventilation, and structural stability.
Clerestory openings and perforated walls support stack ventilation, ensuring thermal comfort in a hot climate.
Column-free classrooms allow flexible interior layouts, with loads transferred to bundled bamboo columns anchored in lightweight concrete–earth foundations.

Together, these systems create a sustainable, climate-responsive school rooted in local knowledge yet projecting innovative possibilities for rural education.

Exploded architectural diagram showcasing a sustainable building design with bamboo roof trusses, a rounded thatched roof, ventilation openings, and operable louvers, emphasizing natural light and airflow.

About the Competition

The competition emphasized the impact of architecture on society, challenging participants to design solutions that are:

Affordable and locally constructible
Climate-adaptive
Engaging for the community
Scalable for future growth
Pedagogically and socially transformative

Our proposal demonstrates that architecture in rural contexts can be both pragmatic and visionary; modular yet expressive, simple yet spatially rich, functional yet inspiring.

Design Project by MBA Architects Team's :

Dr. Arch. Matteo Borsetti (UK) + Charles Fang (USA) + Milina Jayalathge (Sri Lanka)