Updated May 9th, 2016, upon news that the Makoko Floating school has been shortlisted for the 2016 Aga Khan Award for Architecture.
If you dove into our collection on floating architecture back in 2013, you could be forgiven for believing that waterborne buildings are purely lodged in the realms of luxury design. However, Amsterdam-based firm NLÉ Architects proved that same year that buoyant structures can be designed on a budget in developing countries, providing an inspired contextual solution for Nigeria’s huge floating slum in Lagos.
The prototype Makoko Floating School is now a firm favorite among specialists in humanitarian design, and it has been recognized internationally this year, making the shortlist for the prestigious Aga Khan Award for Architecture. Here’s how the firm produced this vernacular masterpiece, step by step.
1. The Vision
NLÉ set out to design a much-needed educational hub for the slum-dwelling community of Makoko in Nigeria, responding to rapid urbanization and climate change affecting the region. Their concept comprised a floating structure that was both stable and scalable, offering children a safe place to learn while doubling as a communal gathering space with great social benefits.
2. Concept Development
Despite budget constraints dictating the building’s low-tech makeup, NLÉ were rigorous in their development process, carefully detailing every aspect of the school to maximize its sustainable properties and provide clarity for those who would ultimately construct it. Passive techniques were utilized in response to Nigeria’s climate — both stack and cross ventilation are detailed on the section drawing — while photovoltaics provide in situ power to illuminate the classroom.
3. Structural Analysis
A simple computer-generated model was developed to assess wind loads and the effects of the ocean on the structure. This assessment helped establish the required dimensions for each timber element, and how many barrels would be necessary to ensure stability in different weather conditions.
4. Modular Design
The floating platform was designed in such a way that it could be built in small parts and then assembled later on, making construction more manageable and flexible for the waterborne context. It also provided opportunities for local youngsters to test the buoyancy of their new school early in the process!
5. Construction
Given the extraordinary and unusual site conditions, it was vital to get the help of the local community, whose knowledge of the region and sure-footedness on floating platforms would prove crucial. They also harnessed vernacular resources to minimize the transportation of materials, building the frame with offcuts from a nearby sawmill and locally grown bamboo.
6. Completion
With the whole community contributing, the project was successfully completed in March 2013. While it functions primarily as a school, the building can support and shelter up to 100 adults even in the worst weather. The structure is also used as an events space, a clinic, and a marketplace for local residents.
7. Future Possibilities
The realized school has quickly become a vital community hub for the residents of Makoko, but NLÉ Architects did not stop there. They have modeled a floating master plan to show how similar structures could be used to expand and improve quality of life for people in the slum, with further public amenities and residential units constructed using the distinctive A-frame structure.