My concept is meant to be simple yet respond to the culture and climate of Malawi as best that it can. The layout allows for maximized indoor and outdoor space for the schoolroom without compromising the privacy of the clinic. The clinic is necessary due to the prevalence of AIDS in Malawi. The people of Malawi are embarrassed to go to a clinic to get tested so I felt that placing the entrance on the opposite side of the classroom would be optimal. There is also a small food prep area off of the schoolroom that also has a cistern below it. Children can receive food and water throughout the school day and their families can benefit from it, as well. I chose materials that would not only be easy to work with but would also provide aesthetic benefits, functionality, and could be locally provided. The roof would be made of an impermeable canvas material. Lightweight and easy to install, it also erases the need for artificial light. The people of Malawi rise when the sun comes up and sleep when it goes down. The canvas roof (and walls) would allow sufficient amounts of light into the building. Concrete would be used for the primary structure. Built in steps (like Legos®) it provides a strong foundation and frame for the wood trusses to sit on and the mud brick and wood louver infill. Overall, the design utilizes great amounts of natural light and also takes advantage of cross ventilation in a hot climate.

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