Senegal Secondary School

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Senegal Secondary School

Firm

Graillet, Simg & Araiza

Type

Cultural › Cultural Center
Educational › High School
Government + Health › Community Center

STATUS

Concept

SIZE

5000 sqft - 10,000 sqft

BUDGET

$50K - 100K

Photos

R8 Visuals (6), GSA Design (3)

Modernism succeeded in establishing a universal architectural language capable of building bridges between diverse cultures and territories, creating a shared framework for how we inhabit and relate to the world. Its social vocation promoted efficiency in the means of production, expanding access to infrastructure and services. However, the indiscriminate repetition of these principles has led to homogeneity, diminishing architecture’s ability to respond to context.

In response, this proposal intends to return to origins: looking to the past to understand how ancestral cultures coexisted with their natural environment. These societies, through careful observation and conscious use of available resources, developed precise solutions deeply rooted in place. From this perspective, the proposal is grounded in compositional rigor and spatial efficiency, while asserting that its three-dimensional expression must be inseparable from the site and the culture that inhabits it.

The site is organized through a 1.20-meter modular grid, generating quadrants that allow for the analysis of optimal orientation and placement of each programmatic component. This system establishes a rhythm in which solid and void engage in dialogue, light and shadow find balance, and staggered volumes frame views and circulation paths. The meticulous footprint articulates a sequence of micro-spaces capable of accommodating flexible programs such as open-air classrooms, workshops, and areas for social interaction, as well as clearing existing trees.

The project is informed by a study of Senegal’s historical legacy, particularly the Serer culture, understanding its traditions, ways of living, and social structures. From this study, we generated curved gestures that reinterpret the circular forms of traditional settlements without compromising constructive efficiency.

Working with a single material required addressing the challenge of avoiding monotony. This is achieved through the strategic subtraction of earth blocks, preserving a geometric pattern inspired by local textiles and craftsmanship. These voids generate visual contrast while enhancing cross-ventilation and the entry of natural light. Doors and windows are conceived as frames that integrate geometric latticework of varying orientations and colors, whose material imperfection contributes to porosity and character. Ornamentation is understood not merely as an aesthetic device, but as a recognition of the historical role of women in construction.

Finally, a sinuous perimeter wall becomes a threshold rather than a barrier, creating niches for vegetation, seating, and services for the surrounding community.
In this way, the proposal becomes a participatory and inclusive system whose impact extends beyond the site. A rational architecture but deeply rooted in Senegalese culture while simultaneously projecting a contemporary humanistic vision.