ICT Lab, Ghana

This project, for Aleutia – an innovative low-power computing manufacturer specializing in the developing world – was a collaboration with Learning Planet and Edinburgh School of Architecture. The brief  was to design a successful, self-powered, instant ICT classroom prototype, based on standard shipping containers, aimed at both urban and rural areas where access to such education and infrastructure is poor or non-existent.

The hybrid design followed background research on Ghana’s social anthropology, climate, economy, literacy levels,  teaching curriculum, government initiaves, local architecture and labour issues.

The design of the ICT classrooms will use the modular steel shape of a shipping container, which will then be clad and reconfigured in order to incorporate passive design strategies of natural ventilation and thermal mass. The container offers the opportunity of reusing an existing structure as well as offering a quick and inexpensive solution to a new building. The structure will operate off-grid and will incorporate  photovoltaic panels on the roof. Solar energy reserves will satisfy the needs for lighting and the use of electronic equipment (laptops, tablets), and no energy will be spent for artificial cooling. The final response will be a hybrid structure, combining local materials with the steel frame structure of the container, for the design of a bioclimatic responsive building.