NLÉ
SHAPING THE ARCHITECTURE
OF DEVELOPING CITIES
Black Rhino Academy is a primary and secondary international boarding school
conceived as an immersive environment for learning from nature. Situated on a very
hilly site just outside Tanzania’
s Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority and the
breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater, the school is surrounded by rich natural vegetation
and abundant wildlife.
The campus masterplan is inspired by a planning principle vested in the region for
millennia
–
the Iraqw/Masai Boma settlements. Organised in rings of small building
units, these villages typically consists of clusters of homes, animal pens, and storage
spaces that are connected by thorn bushes forming protective belts around the
villages.
The scho
ol program, schedule and activities are divided into three clusters or
‘Islands’
–
to create places to Live, Learn and Play. These are interconnected by a
pathway, creating a safe yet open environment protected from and yet within the
wildlife.
The ‘Live I
sland’ is located in the most environmentally attractive location on site
–
to
ensure the best living conditions for the children, fundamental for learning. The
dormitory buildings are oriented to the rising east sun and with common lounge
areas in each do
rmitory to enable the children to gather, play and feel at home. The
‘Learn Island’ consists of classroom blocks situated in a grid on the sloping
landscape. The school hall is a simple yet iconic building that overhangs the natural
slope forming an amphit
heatre beneath it for the general school assemblies. The
‘Play Island’ includes the sports field and is located on the only flat area of the site.
The rest, an undulating playscape where children can explore the landscape and live
their imaginations.
Using
the age old method of hanging a chain under its own weight, we create a
series of catenary arches, in their natural positions from earth bricks. These arches
connect the structural columns and stepped retaining walls into a continuous
element, that provid
e shelter and seating benches in the school hallways. The reverse
catenary arches provide a simple method for each arch to be uniquely sized to
respond to the varying relationships between building and the undulating landscape.
The campus is carefully plan
ned and located on the slopes connected by ramps to
provide comfortable access for disabled persons.
Black Rhino Academy aims to provide a visual and experiential environment that