SITE REPORT
Project Name: Nadal’s School
Client: Association Amis des Enfants de l’ile de la Gonave
Date: August 14, 2010
Attendees
Damour Nadal – President AAE
Adam Saltzman- Architecture for Humanity
Lyndia Mesidor – Architecture for Humanity
Location
Palma, Isle de la Gonave. Palma is located about 45 minutes from the port town of Anse-a-Galets in the mountains of La Gonave. It is a small town but acts as the hub for the population of the surrounding countryside. The site is located 0.15 miles southeast of the main plaza in Palma, just outside of the existing community infrastructure in what is now farmland. 18°46'41.52"N, 72°51'30.96"W
Weather: Sunny, slight breeze.
AAE is a non-profit organization that has several projects they have initiated to help the people of La Gonave. They have established a community center in Anse-a-Galets where they hold classes teaching computer skills and English to both adults and children. Additionally, they hold classes on Saturdays at a church in Palma for about 90 children.
Palma is a remote region with little industry and a depressed agricultural subsistence. There is an existing church-run primary school in Palma, however, many of the region’s children are unable to attend because they cannot afford tuition.
AAE has acquired a site near the center of Palma with the intention of developing a pre-school and primary school. Furthermore, they hope to expand to include a secondary school program through the matriculation of their students as they graduate from the primary school program. The concept is that the primary school will conduct classes in a morning session only, and as secondary classes begin, they will add an afternoon session.
Site Information:
Access and Surrounding Area
Accessibility to the site is difficult because of its location on the island of La Gonave. A daily ferry is available from the mainland, and there are several large boats which transport construction materials and supplies from the mainland daily. Once on the island there are dump trucks and 4x4 vehicles which can transport materials to the site. Concrete block is the only locally produced construction material and is made with less cement than is acceptable by international standards. Heavy equipment is not available on the island.
Palma is in the mountainous inland region of the island at 1,400 feet above sea level. The town hosts the largest market in the region every Wednesday. All of built structures in the area are single story and are made of either concrete block or traditional building techniques. There is no electricity available on the island outside of Anse-a-Galets. The water pump in Palma is broken, and the closest water source is 0.5 miles away and is reportedly unreliable.
Site Specific information
The site is located 0.15 miles southeast of the main plaza in Palma, just outside of the existing community infrastructure in what is now farmland. A few large trees exist along the boundaries of the site but the majority of the site is completely open. A slight slope exists with a low point in the northern corner. Just inside the northeast boundary begins a rocky slope upward. The site is L-shaped bordering a residential property on the eastern corner. The site has been in use as farmland and has no built structure. The total size of the site is approximately 3,150 square meters or 31,500 square feet.
Current Situation:
AAE has planted sweet potatoes on the property for the time being.
Client Requests:
AAE would like to open a school to accommodate its full student body in one session.
They would like to have pre-school facilities for 2 year olds through kindergarten as well as a full primary school. As they graduate classes from their primary school they intent to add an afternoon session in the same facility to accommodate secondary schooling for those students. They anticipate having an enrollment of 200 to 250 students in the primary school. In the evenings they anticipate holding classes for adults teaching English and computer skills. They have requested 6 classrooms but suggested that they open the school with 4 classrooms and expand to 6 as enrollment increases. Additionally, they will require dormitory facilities for the teachers, offices, kitchen, toilet facilities, playground, and a computer lab.
The two subjects that they would like to focus on in their school are agricultural practices and computer skills. In order to accommodate this they would like to have a garden for demonstration purposes and hands-on training. They are also considering purchasing an additional piece of property about 0.5 miles away to use strictly for farming education and food production for the local community. They will also need a computer lab which can be powered by energy generated on site.
NOTE: AAE has secured support from Trans-Marine LLC who has agreed to sail construction materials for the school from the US to La Gonave in December 2010.
Recommendations:
The remoteness of the site makes transportation of construction material and equipment difficult and expensive. This should be taken into consideration when deciding the construction method. Additionally, due to the lack of access to electricity and water, the buildings should be designed to maximize passive lighting and climate control as well as rainwater collection.
Because AAE will not be charging tuition, the school is likely to attract students from long distances. The design should accommodate anticipated significant growth of the student body over the first few years as organizational capacity grows and the scope expands to secondary education.
The population of La Gonave is dependent on imports from mainland Haiti for almost all needs. The design of the school should encourage the development of a more self-sustaining community. Traditional building techniques such as wood framing with stone or woven wood infill can be found around the island which do not require many outside resources. Additionally, the educational focus on agricultural practices should be embraced in the site plan in order to stress the importance of food production on the island. Concepts such as water catchment for irrigation, poly-culture farming, and composting should come to forefront in the project. This Self-sufficient Open School in Buwasa, Uganda and the La Majaguita Primary School were design with similar intentions.
With AAE’s experience and Palma’s function as a regional hub, the opportunity exists for this project to become an educational resource for all ages in the regional population. Program elements such as multi-purpose spaces to accommodate community meetings, sports facilities, library, fine arts center, and cyber café may contribute to the impact that this project can make in the community. Perhaps the school should be thought of as the foundation of a larger project which grows over time to bring resources and generate opportunities to rural La Gonave. This may include utilities such as access to water, locally produced energy, and economic development in addition to education. The work of APF in Fondwa may prove to be a useful precedent.
Further Action:
Architecture for Humanity will investigate logistical issues with construction in such a remote location. Based on the findings we may either move forward with the design of the school, or we will refer the project to local architects, continuing in the capacity of a design consultant.
Architecture for Humanity may want to contemplate broadening the scope this project to the development a community plan to improve infrastructure and economic opportunities as well as educational facilities.
AAE should apply for the Students Rebuild Haiti Schools Initiative construction grant at the following links:
English http://architectureforhumanity.org/node/1491
French http://architectureforhumanity.org/node/1448
Creole http://architectureforhumanity.org/node/1463
or http://architectureforhumanity.org/updates/2010-07-13-haiti-schools-init...
