The Facade Atlas
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Helge Fahrnberger / www.helge.at

Gando Primary School

Location
Gando,Burkina Faso
Design firm
Kéré Architecture
Typology
Educational
Years
1999–2001
Status
Complete

Facade facts

Facade summary
An envelope of compressed earth blocks sheltered by a wide, flying corrugated iron roof supported on a steel truss system.
Documented intention
The architect designed the envelope to respond to the extreme heat and lack of resources. The intention was to use local materials (clay) to provide thermal mass, while the elevated fly-roof creates a stack effect, allowing hot air to escape and preventing solar radiation from directly hitting the classroom ceilings.
Street relationship
Set within a rural landscape, the building has no conventional 'street' facade, but rather opens up to a shared communal yard. The deep roof overhangs create protected outdoor porches that function as transition spaces between the classrooms and the schoolyard.
Climate relationship
Highly responsive to the hot semi-arid climate. The thermal mass of the CEB walls delays heat transfer, while the double-envelope roof acts as a solar shield and ventilating plenum. Wind-driven cross-ventilation is facilitated through louvers and openable window shutters.
Window pattern
Rhythmic, repeating vertical rectangular openings along the north and south facades.
Glazing
None
Depth
Deep profile due to the massive overhanging roof which projects significantly beyond the wall plane.
Rhythm
Regular repeating rhythm of classroom volumes,divided by open shaded interstitial spaces,and punctured by uniform window openings.
Compressed Earth Blocks (CEB)
Compressed Earth Blocks (CEB) — Main load-bearing walls — Matte,rough,natural clay texture
Steel Rebars
Steel Rebars — Truss structure supporting the roof — Painted
Corrugated Steel Sheets
Corrugated Steel Sheets — Upper roof canopy — Corrugated,metallic
Cast-in-place Concrete
Cast-in-place Concrete — Lintels and tie-beams — Smooth,formwork-imprinted
Compressed Earth Block (CEB) Masonry
Load-bearing masonry walls built from locally produced compressed earth blocks stabilized with a small percentage of cement (approx. 8%).
Ventilated Double-Roof System
An elevated lightweight steel truss roof raised above a clay brick ceiling. The space between the ceiling and roof is open at the sides, allowing wind to sweep through and pull hot air out of the building via the stack effect.

Tags

Unclad load-bearing masonry

Description

The Gando Primary School facade consists of load-bearing walls built from compressed earth blocks (CEB). These blocks are composed of local clay mixed with 8% cement for stabilization and durability against rain. The walls are not plastered, showing the natural reddish-brown color and texture of the local earth. A cast-in-place concrete tie-beam runs along the top of the walls. Above the classroom block, a lightweight steel truss system supports a corrugated metal sheet roof that extends far beyond the wall envelope, shielding it from rain and direct sun. The ceiling below the metal roof is constructed of vault-like clay elements that allow hot air to escape into the attic space, which is then cooled by cross-ventilation.

Visual analysis

Visually, the facade presents a striking contrast between the heavy, textured, earth-bound clay block walls and the light, industrial, floating steel-and-zinc roof structure. The rhythmic placement of window openings with simple steel or wooden shutters creates a modular, repetitive pattern.

Gallery

Sources

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