Larger clay elements cast in place instead of bricks used for wall construction

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    Foundations are made of granite and mortar.

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    Reinforced ring beam made of concrete.

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    Concrete connection for reinforcing the wall elements.

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    Most of the construction materials are locally available: granite stones for the base, clay and fast-growing eucalyptus wood, mainly used as firewood.

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    Project update June 2012 – Secondary school with passive ventilation system, Gando, Burkina Faso

    Project update 2012 - Secondary school with passive ventilation system, Gando, Burkina Faso: Construction is progressing using larger clay elements cast in place instead of bricks for the walls, using similar materials but with the addition of gravel.

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    The project motivates the community through creating new jobs where traditional techniques are combined with new know-how.

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    It is of a great importance to teach and train locals in the use of new techniques in order to enhance their independence and sustainability of the building process.

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    With one formwork the entire project can be constructed, not only saving time but also enabling the new technique to be replicated on other projects.

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    Project update June 2012 – Secondary school with passive ventilation system, Gando, Burkina

    Project update 2012 - Secondary school with passive ventilation system, Gando, Burkina Faso: The wall elements contain of earth blend, sand, gravel and cement.

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    Project update June 2012 – Secondary school with passive ventilation system, Gando, Burkina Faso

    Project update 2012 - Secondary school with passive ventilation system, Gando, Burkina Faso: The ring beams and the carrier beams are reinforced and hold the roof construction and the vaults.

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    Wall elements made of cast earth.

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    Project update March 2014 – Secondary school with passive ventilation system, Gando, Burkina Faso

    Project update 2012 - Secondary school with passive ventilation system, Gando, Burkina Faso: The formwork is filled with cement-stabilized reinforced cast earth and stripped of the formwork the following day.

Construction of the next phase of the comprehensive project to complete the secondary school is progressing to schedule in mid-2012. This school project in one of the world’s poorest countries aims to provide further education to the inhabitants of a rural area. Gando, with a population of 3000, has no secondary education facilities and lies on the southern plains of Burkina Faso, some 200km from the capital Ouagadougou.

Last updated: June 06, 2012 Gando, Burkina Faso

Construction of the next phase of the comprehensive project to complete the secondary school is progressing to schedule in mid-2012. This school project in one of the world’s poorest countries aims to provide further education to the inhabitants of a rural area. Gando, with a population of 3000, has no secondary education facilities and lies on the southern plains of Burkina Faso, some 200km from the capital Ouagadougou.

Most of the construction materials used to construct the school are sourced available: granite stones for the base, clay and fast-growing eucalyptus wood, mainly used as firewood. The wall elements are constructed using a curved mold that enables the elements to be self-supported, and are cast in-situ with a blend of earth, sand, gravel that is stabilized with cement.

The project motivates the community by enhancing the skills of laborers where traditional techniques are combined with new know-how.