Project description by jury

The Mesopotamian Marshes in Iraq are a unique site of high natural and cultural value with a desperate need for educational facilities and policy measures for the architectural heritage preservation. The project asserts the design and construction of an educational facility in Basra to accommodate classrooms, a library and a music room, as well as multipurpose halls and activity rooms. The pedagogical complex is generated by the repetition of vaulted roof units centered around a large square that is accessible to the public. The architectural language recalls traditional geometries and construction techniques of the Mesopotamian (or Iraqi) Marshes and emphasizes the traditional vernacular bioclimatic features. The building is constructed principally using rammed earth cast on-site from local soil. The walls are further stabilized through the addition of a small proportion of cement to create a hybrid material that is very affordable and more durable. The uppermost sections of the walls are made of woven reeds that allow the access of daylight and enable cross-ventilation in the classrooms. Entirely built by the local workforce, the project is implemented as a collaborative community hub, resulting in an opportunity for knowledge and skill transfer to younger generations.

In the competition region of Middle East Africa, the jury selected four entries to receive Next Generation prizes. The winning projects from Uganda, Jordan, Sierra Leone, and Iraq have one thing in common: an intrinsic optimism about the future.

Native materials, innovative methods

Utilizing the available local resources: mud, reeds, and people. The main building elements are rammed earth walls which are cast on-site using local soil. The walls are stabilized through adding a small amount of cement, creating a hybrid local material that is very affordable, environmentally sustainable and durable. The walls are covered with reed roofs, made from reed columns and woven reed screens, to protect from rain, provide privacy while allowing natural daylight into the classrooms.

Passive design plays a major role in environmental sustainability; the modular units interlock to provide shaded spaces in between. They also employ a split roof and an integrated air-cooling wind-catcher to take advantage of the prevailing northwestern winds, providing cross-ventilation and cooling.