Aleutia Solar Container Classroom

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I.C.T. Classrooms Project | Research SummaryES AL A PROJECTS


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Contents

Introduc on

Collaborators

Ghana

Cultural Summar & EconomGovernment Ini a ve

CurriculumCurriculum & Teaching in GhanaLocal ArchitectureAn OverviewLocall Resourced Building Materials

Modern Building MaterialsLocal Labour s ClimateClimate Pro le in GhanaClima c Data & Anal sisTechnologRequirements, Dimensions & Usage Stats

Container Design StrategiesPassive Cooling Strategies & H brid Approach Inves ga on

Precedents

Conclusion

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33Introduc on

The ICT Classroom Project began as a collabora on between ESALA a pro bonoarchitecture design team at the Universit of Edinburgh, Learning Planet an educa onalNGO providing design and infrastructure assistance to remote or disadvantagedcommuni es, and Aleu a an innova ve low-power compu ng manufacturerspecializing in the developing world. The Design Teams task is to help plan and designa successful, self-powered, instant ICT classroom protot pe, based on 40-foot or 20-foot shipping containers. The classroom must func on as an a ordable, rapid to deplo ,

exible & inspiring learning environment for ICT educa on and other developmentalneeds. Its aimed at both urban and rural areas where access to such educa on andinfrastructure is poor or non-existent.

The ini al project is aimed at late primar and earl secondar school children (10-16ears of age). The current required deliverable is a protot pical scheme that will be

constructed in the grounds of Ghanas House of Parliament as a showcase for decision

makers on innova ve, rapid deplo ment, ICT training facili es for Ghanas schools.

This working report is a documenta on of the teams research, strategies and designdevelopments for the project. The compiled informa on, inves ga ons and researchhighlight issues to be addressed via architecture. Then, the following design strategiesand responses could be determined as solu ons to such issues. Generall , the reportis expected to provide the fundamental references and backgrounds, likewise as theproject guidelines that enable the team to progress the developing scheme e ec veland e cientl .

The teams rst phase of research based in the context of Ghana ini ates the structure

of this report. First, the countr s governmental ini a ve in educa on is documented,followed b its educa on curriculum outlining current teaching methods, class hoursand issues. Secondl , an anal sis of local resources and environment is undertakenfor the developmnent of passive design strategies. The available technologies b thecompan Aleu a for the ICT classrooms are listed in this report as well. Precedentsare compiled for design references. Thus, the report structure should provide furtherguidance in the design phase.

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44ZoomLion

ZoomLion are a subsidiar compan of the Jo spong Group in Ghana and wi ll pla a partin helping the manufacture of the ICT protot pe to be displa ed to members of thegovernment. ZoomLion are predominantl a waste management compan , howeverthrough close work with the government expanding Ghanas h giene infrastructurethe have started to expand into other areas that help communit development inGhana and parts of western Africa. With a special interest in eco-friendl design, their

projects have included organizing a Costal Eco-brigade as well as a Na onal ForestPlanta on Development project to control deforesta on. One of their strong beliefs isthat an important part of developing a strong infrastructure is crea ng local jobs thatcontribute to communit development.

Aleu a

Aleu a specialises in manufacturing low power computers for use in extreme climatesand condi ons, with a unique emphasis on design for use in the developing world. Thewill act as hardware provider for the ICT classroom, which will house a new itera on oftheir self-contained Solar Classroom in a box . B innova ng the development

and deplo ment of reliable, low energ , low cost, high performance, self-powered IT,Aleu a hope to to provide technological accessibilit to under-privileged children inurban and rural areas, right across the con nent.

Learning Planet

Learning planet helps remote or disadvantaged communi es create safe, s mula ng,

sustainable environments where both children and adults can learn and develop newskills. Working in collabora on the design, co- nance and construct schools, equipthem with clean energ and u li es, provide on-going teacher-training with localpartners, and provide engineering and other technical exper se. Learning Planetsuccessful brought high-speed internet and the rst computers to 5000 people in ruralNepal in 2012/ 2013 and will bring a further 14 remote schools online b December.

In 2011, Learning Planet began partnering with Aleu a - a compan that shared theirgoals and vision - to help bring the right hardware into some challenging environments.The success of this collabora on catal sed the ini a on of the ICT Classroom Project.

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Collaborators: Partners in Ghana


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5the forest region in Ghana. The savanna region is regarded as the least economicalldeveloped area, however new irriga on such as manmade Lake Volta has opened theland up to use for livestock and farming of cereal crops.

According to the IMF (Interna onal Monetar Fund) the countr is thought to have a

stable econom , as the prices of gold and cocoa are rela vel high. In addi on, Ghanaannounced the discover of oil in 2007, which is presen ng new challenges to thegovernment despite its obvious economic advantages.

HealthWhile Ghana s ll has major health issues, since independence the government has beenable to improve nutri on, maternal health and childcare. Through providing sanita on,medica on and educa on, the government has been able to control endemic diseasessuch as malaria and pneumonia which previousl had high death tolls. However themajorit of communi es are s ll without adequate sanita on or water-suppl facili esand as a result are unable to improve upon their public health.

Literacy in Ghana

Social AnthropologyGhana is a sub-Saharan former Bri sh colon which gained independence in the

late 1950s. With an es mated 25 million ci zens the countr has a wide variet ofbackgrounds spread evenl over both rural (48%) and urban areas (52%).

The majorit of the countr s popula on are Chris an (63%) although the countr alsohas a small percentage of Muslim (16%) and indigenous (21%) religions. In total, Ghanahas over 50 ethnic groups, all of which maintain important tradi ons and individualiden es which all contribute to Ghanas na onal culture. Man areas of Ghana areethnicall conscious, in par cular northern Ghana where tensions have been known torise with violent outcomes. In the past, the government has been par cularl carefulto downpla ethnic di erences; this is something that has been aided b the adop onof English as their common language. The Ghanaian government has now taken steps

to address these cultural di erences in an e ort to unif the man ethnic groups inGhana to strengthen their na onal iden t and enable an environment for na onaldevelopment.

Economic In general Ghana has three major geographic regions; the coast, the forest and thenorthern savanna although the boundaries of these regions are di cult to de ne.The majorit of the countr s farming and extrac on of natural resources comes form

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Cultural Summar and Econom

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UpperWest

Upper East

Brong-Ahafo Volta

AshanEastern

WesternCentral

GreaterAccra

U p p e r W e s t

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Le : Zoning in map shows illiterac status for popula on 11 ears and older in Ghana b region and district

with the Northern region being most illterate while Greater Accra being the least illiterate. Right: Literac

status for popula on 11 ears and older b region and district 2010. Source: www.statsghana.gov.gh

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LiterateNon-literate


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Na onal Commission on CultureThe government in Ghana has set up the Na onal Commission on Culture andhopes to preserve and protect Ghanaian heritage and culture. The hope to ensurethat tradi onal customs and values are adapted and developed in their growing andmodernizing societ . Through the development of cultural ins tu ons and programs

the seek to promote tradi onal values such as dignit , honest , peace and a tudestowards nature. In responding to modern developments while maintaining tradi onthe hope to generate wealth and alleviate povert .

The Ghana Open Government Partnership Ini a veThe Ghanaian government recognizes that corrup on is one of the countries biggestproblems and hopes to address the issue with the u liza on of new technologies toempower people and promote transparenc in government. The ini a ve aims toincrease access to new technolog , providing services such as Internet access and mobi letechnolog , providing an opportunit for informa on sharing, public par cipa on,and collabora on. In doing this Ghanaian people can be made aware of the roles

their government pla s and will be be er equipped to make informed decisions. Thisini a ve develops secure online spaces and makes technolog a ordable while alsoproviding support for the ci zens of Ghana to use it. While promo ng technolog , thegovernment also understand that technolog is a complement, not a subs tute, forclear, useable, and useful informa on, demonstra ng recogni on for a greater needfor educa onal material.

Government Ini a ves

ConclusionThrough researching the local governments and their current ini a ves, it becomesclear that our learning container can be used to bene t the communit as a whole bmaking wider educa on available to people of all ages in the communi es, par cularlin rural areas. The u liza on of media such as lm has proven e ec ve for governmental

ini a ves in the past and also demonstrates a desire for new media and entertainmentin rural communi es.

The container could not onl be used to inform but also could provide a method ofallowing communica on between the people and its government, enabling them tobecome more responsive to the changing needs of their people.

The idea of scaling up also b ecomes a recurrent theme with governmental ini a ves.Emphasis has been placed upon the ounger genera ons and providing them with ameans of progression and moderniza on with a view to bene t the future economand establish a developed technological, educa onal and economic infrastructure.


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The use of computer technolog for teaching and learning and the bene ts that comewith it has been of hot topic in Africa in recent ears. This has resulted in a na onwidee ort to incorporate the subject of Informa on Communica on and Technolog intothe school curriculum, with man countries reforming, or planning to reform, theirna onal educa on policies accommodate this.

GhanaOur countr of focus, Ghana, has alread produced its own ICT in Educa on Polic ,which was implemented in 2007 a er a recogni on of the subjects abilit to supportthe governments aim to transform the countr into an informa on rich and knowledgebased econom and societ . The polic states a requirement for ICT to be used to teachand learn at all levels of the educa on s stem, leading to its inclusion in the basic schoolcurriculum where ICT is now examinable. Schools that have incorporated ICT into their curriculum have faced and are facing anumber of challenges (not without success) along the wa and this sec ons aim is to

highlight those that will have signi cant in uence on the design of an ICT classroom.

A New Teaching EnvironmentThe introduc on of ICT into the school curriculum follows a governmental desire toprovide its people with an educa on that goes be ond the tradi onal prac ce ofmemor -based learning with one that encourages crea ve and cri cal thinking, skillsthat are believed to be crucial in mee ng the challenges of the 21st centur world.

In order to achieve this ICT classes must go be ond onl teaching students how to usethe equipment and must focus on providing their students with the abilit to use thetechnolog to generate new learning content. Thus, teachers need a space to workin that goes be ond the tradi onal classroom setup and that allows them to func onin a new informa on environment that is constantl changing and where there areno one me ac vi es. The need open, exible, authen c and autonomous learningenvironments to teach in.

Curriculum & Teaching

Classroom Conges onOne challenge faced b schools in Africa that incorporate ICT into their curriculum isovercrowding and conges on, which can result in overhea ng and teaching di cul es.This is caused b large class sizes (80 students to 1 teacher is not uncommon) and thehigh ra o of students per computer. In most cases it is not feasible to provide ever

student with an electronic device and it is important that the design of an ICT classroomaccommodates this. Teachers therefore require a space that is exible enough toaccommodate large numbers of students, that allows for spli ng them into groups andthat allows for ease of movement between working areas.


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Curriculum & Teaching

E-Learning and the CommunityThe use of computer technolog has allowed the emergence of new methods ofteaching, one example being Open Educa onal Resources (OER). OERs are learningand teaching materials (including lesson plans) that are free to download and edit andthat allow ever-present access to open content and open courses, providing a cheap

solu on that is easier to distribute than the tradi onal textbook. The use of e-learning is jus ed b its abilit to provide educa on an where a learner has an electronic devicesuch as a tablet or a mobile phone. Interes ngl , the allow their users to create theirown courses using text, graphics, quizzes, audio and video.

One challenge faced b African governments is the crea on of ght rela onshipsbetween communi es and educa onal ins tu ons. It is feasible to suggest that allowingcommunit wide access to ICT classrooms and their digital content (e.g. OERs) outsideschool hours could help encourage a sense of ownership and local maintenance of theclassroom. It would also sa sf a common complaint shared b students, which is thatthe are not o ered enough me to use the technolog due to short class mes and the

closing of ICT classrooms in the evenings and weekends.

The Ghana Educa on Service is not prepared to pa over me allowance to ICTinstructors, however if it is possible to have a classroom with a 24 hour wireless server,students and communit members could take their own devices to it and downloadlearning content wirelessl , without the classroom having to be open at all.

ConclusionA new, self contained ICT classroom, which accommodates ac ve learning environmentsthat communi es can care for independentl , could not come at a be er me. Bdemonstra ng a new wa to rapidl and a ordabl deplo and maintain e ec ve

exible IT learning spaces, The ICT Classroom Project is in line with Ghanas ke statedaims for the next 10 ears. If the solu on can successfull inspire local commercial,governmental and non governmental bodies in Ghana to invest and con nue to innovate,the ICT Classroom Project could be a ke component of a successful IT training policfor the whole na on.


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Architecture re ects the people. Hence architecture, especiall vernacular architecturein Ghana, is based on a d namic concep on.

Every individual had his defnite place with the community. Each shared responsibility

for all other... Udo Kultermann; New Architecture in Africa.

Architecture in Ghana toda is in variance on one hand there is the vernaculararchitecture that is s ll occupied, while other buildings embrace modern buildingconstruc on methods. The la er is obvious in the urban regions of Ghana, the capitalcit of Accra is no less di erent than other modern ci es across the globe.

Local Architecture: An Overview

Independence Square in Accra, Ghana.Examples of vernacular architecture in Ghana.


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1010Contrar to buildings in modern towns, the construc on of buildings in rural Ghana arever much in uenced b the availabilit of local materials that varies between di erentareas of the countr . Below is a list and summar of these materials categorised throughthe building components:

Founda ons : i. Stone: commonl constructed with in South Ghana. ii. Mud: rammed ra founda on, laterite soil with aggregate of

gravel or sand are commonl used. iii. Cla .

Floor : i. Mud: O en, the founda on of the building is the oor slabitself, though another la er of mud or sand screed are o enused as nishes. Some mes, mud bricks are used.

ii. Cla .

Walls : i. Mud: through the Atakpame construc on, sun-dried mud

blocks, and used in the wa le and daub construc on.Some mes, old mud walls are rec cled, as in the case inKasuli ili of the Dagomba Village.

ii. Timber/Bamboo : used in mber wall frame/structure ( as inthe wa le and daub construc on.) Split bamboo fronds for aven lated wall.

iii. Palm and coconut trees. Split palm fronds for screen walls. iv. Creepers: to e horizontal and ver cal mber framework

together as a joint. v. Plaster, a mixture of cow dung, locust bean pod juices

and mud. As the surface dries, it hardens and becomesimpervious to water, lending to the smoothness anddurabilit of the wall.

Roof : i. Mud, used in the construc on of at roofs. ii. Timber/bamboo, to construct roof frame/structures for both

gabled and at roofs. iii. Palm leaves for thatched roofs provide a bigger poten al for

rainwater harves ng as water runs smoothl o the leaves.

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Photo of a building constructed with the

wa le and daub method. Note the nishing

e ects of an engraved wall.

A building in Ghana constructed with bamboo as a

facade screen. Bamboo can be found in abundance

in the countr and it is an excellent source for

construc on material.

Diagram shows wa le

and daub construc on.

Local Architecture: Locall Resourced Building Materials

A constructed hut nished with palm fronds

and roo ng from palm leaves.

Diagram brie showing a t pical construc on

with mber.


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11About 70% of Ghanas popula on live in the south, while the remaining 30% live inthe more rural north. 50% of the popula on live in the countr s urban area that areconcentrated in the south. As Ghana embraces modernit like an other developingcountr , conven onal building materials for construc on are becoming widel available.For example, concrete blocks, insulated concrete formwork (ICF), aluminium window

casement, oor les and man others.

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Local Architecture: Modern Building Materials Local Architecture: Local Labour

A middle class building in Ghana constructed with the conven onal (modern) building materials.

Carpentr , Ghanaians dominant

cra smenship.

The construc on of Ghanas vernacular architecture involves both men and womenin the labour force. The men will mainl be construc ng the structural components ofthe building the rammed ra founda on (or an speci c regional substructure), thesuperstructure of walls and la ing of roofs. Meanwhile, the women tend to the buildingelements and nishes weaving for walls or thatched roofs, appl ing the nished

surface, etc. Thus, the construc on and maintenance of a locall resourced building isself-sustaining and e cient for the communit ini a ve.

In modern da Ghana, local skills and resources are required b the industr of sucha developing na on. Carpentr in par cular is Ghanaians dominant cra smenship.This is no surprise as mber and bamboo are abundant in this countr because of itsposi on in the tropical monsoon region. Other prominent local cra smenship consistsof blacksmithing and po er . Thus, u lising these available resources is highl ideal forthe ICT classroom project.


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Climate: Climate Pro le in Ghana

Located in West Africa and along the Guinea Coast between la tudes of 4 an 12 N, theclimate in Ghana is tropical warm and compara vel dr along the south-east coast,hot and humid in south-west while it is hot and dr in the north.

Strongl in uenced b the West African Monsoon, the rainfall seasons of Ghana arecontrolled b the movement of the tropical rain belt a.k.a. the Inter-Tropical ConversionZone (ITCZ), oscilla ng between the northern and southern tropics annuall . Moist airfrom the Atlan c is predominantl blown from the south-west, but hot and dust air

from the Sahara desert (a.k.a. Harma an) is blown from the north-east of the ITCZ. Thus,this pa ern of two opposing wind direc ons is known as the West Arica Monsoon.

In northern Ghana, a single wet season occurs between Ma and November while theperiod between December and March observes a dr season when the Harma anwind blows north-easterl . Meanwhile, the southern regions of Ghana have two wetseasons one from March to Jul , and another from September to November.

TamaleAverage temperature: 27.9C

Total Precipita on: 1082 mm

AccraAverage temperature: 26.3C


TakoradiAverage temperature: 30.5C


WaAverage temperature: 28.7C


Ecological Zones of Ghana. Eleva on Pro le of Ghana.

(Harma an)

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In general, climate is hot and humid. Cooling and dehumidi ca on are de nitel requiredthroughout the whole ear. Adap ve thermal comfort due to natural ven la on willprovide a habitable environment. However, if looking into standard thermal comfort withpassive design methods, more considera on is demanded for providing dehumidi edand cool air into the building. Moreover, solar radia on is abundant and cloud coverreaches 65% annuall . Glare issues should be considered, especiall for rooms with computers.

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Climate and Comfort Anal sis for Accra, Ghana in School Hours.

Climate: Climate Data & Anal sis

Ground Temperature varies from 25 to 27 in a 4 m depth of ground. Research on earthtubes could be conducted since it might be an e ec ve wa of providing ven la on,passive cooling and dehumidi ca on. Wind speed is limited - it varies from 2 m/s to 5m/s throughout the whole ear. Overall, even with the applica on of all passive coolingmethods, it ma be necessar to appl h brid mechanical s stems.

Thermal Massing (3,4)

Natural Ventala on (7)

Sun Shading of Windows (2)

Outside of Comfort Zone (red)

Assesment of Passive Methods


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Router

The wireless router will allow other electronic devices (phones, tablets, laptops) in thearea to connect both to the internet and to an o ine database of informa on stored inthe container. This would mean that even in areas of poor connec on a wide variet ofinforma on including Wikipedia, videos, and educa onal material could be available todownload and be used b ever one.

The less enclosed the device is the farther it can transmit a signal so looking into anop on of an antenna or tower ma be feasible.

Con gura onThe classroom can be con gured in several di erent wa s, the approach which allowsthe greatest amount of informa on sharing is one in which even when the classroomis closed the router and a server remain opera onal to allow surrounding buildings toconnect to the resources. We are s ll awai ng con rma on on if this would be possib le.Another issue to consider is external charging sta ons which can be accessed evenwhen the building is shut o . This would facilitate the use of the container howeverit would also use a large amount of the containers stored energ and there for wouldneed to be monitored to avoid overuse and abuse of the service.

14Solar PanelsThe dimensions of each solar panel is 1632 x 986 mm with a weight of about 19kg. 6solar panels will be supplied.

Ba eries

The ba eries need to be placed in a well ven lated cool area preferabl awa fromthe users as the give o some noxious gases. 5 ba eries each weighing 50kg and~550x200x200mm. Space to adapt must be accommodated for as ba eries ma change.

Charge ControllerThis small device regulates the energ from the solar panels and ba eries. Ideall itshould be wall mounted somewhere safe near the ba eries and where the cablesfor the solar panels enter the box. All the components of the charge contoller can bemounted in about 1000x500mm of wallspace.

ComputersThe container must be designed to t 10 x Aleu a 22 All in one PCs. This means thedesk space required for each computer has a minimum width of 540mm and a minimumdepth of desk space of about 750mm. The computers are fanless and therefore can beplaced an where, however the will s ll emit heat when running and wi ll be sta onar .

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22 Inch Aleu a All in One Fanless PC

Storage space required for the bank of ba eries. ~550x200x200mm

Technolog


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Container

Speci ca onsThe use of a building container as the base and the primar shipping methodfor the ICT classroom has both advantages and disadvantages all of which mustbe addressed in the design process. The containers selected for this projectare a standard Normal Cap 40 container (LxWxH 12.1mx2.4mx2.6m) and

a 20 container (LxWxH 6mx2.4mx2.6m) which will be rec cled ex-shippingcontainers.

Structure Structurall the container can be viewed as being composed of man smallercomponents. Simpli ed there are two main elements - the frame and thepanelling. The frame of the container is a simple 12 edged cuboid with theinclusion of more beams across the ground plane to help bare the load inside thecontainer. The panelling is composed of corrugated steal of var ing thicknesswhich is placed in between the frame. The composi on of the two elementsmakes a strong ridged structure in which the external frame carries the loadwhile the panelling provides the lateral and horizontal bracing.

This reliance on both components means whenever a sec on of panelling isremoved it must be replaced with further bracing as the individual frame isrela vel weak and will buckle under load if bracing is not provided. It is helpfulto view the structural composi on of the container like an I-Beam; the angestake the load but without the web would bend and snap and without the angesthe web would struggle to take the load.

The roo ng panels are capable of bearing around 250kg so it is important tomake sure that the roof load is transferred down the corner columns. Also dueto the bracing nature of the panels it is not advisable that an cuts are made inthe panelling within half a meter of the corners.

In the selec on of the containers it is important to be war of an extensiverus ng of the steel under the paint especiall around the frame as this is aserious structural issue and will likel be wh the container was re red fromuse.

Transporta onAs it was the previous primar func on of the container, the transporta onabili es of the container are excellent. The ample space means that all thenecessar technical equipment, as well as all addi onal building materials canbe delivered on site within the single container. It will be important to account

for the length limita ons in the design so that all elements of the classroom canbe disassembled and t within the transporta on space

Shipping Container Assembl

Loading Points on a Standard Container


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1616The design of the ICT classrooms will use the modular steel shape of a shippingcontainer, which will then be clad and recon gured in order to incorporate passivedesign strategies of natural ven la on and thermal mass. We feel that the containeris an excellent method of reusing an exis ng structure as well as o ering a quick andinexpensive solu on to a new building.

The structure will operate o -grid and will inves gate strategies of an AutonomousHouse, with the incorpora on of photovoltaic panels on the roof. Solar energ reserveswill sa sf the needs for ligh ng and the use of electronic equipment (laptops, tablets)and no energ will be spent for ar cial cooling.

The nal response will be a h brid structure, combining local materials with the steelframe structure of the container, for the design of a bioclima c responsive building.The aim of the design is to test concept design using IES simula on technolog andinves gate the di erent techniques and methods for achieving thermal comfort withinthe ICT classroom, located in a tropical climate and without the use of air-condi on.

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Design Strategies

The container will have the possibilit of travelling to di erent places in the form of a boxand then recon gured on site using the exper se of the local workmanship. However,when placed at its based loca on it will become permanent and will ini ate a furtherdesigning and recon gura on of its adjacent territor .

Furthermore, the design will explore further possibili es of the structure been usedthroughout the da and present a mul -use func on b hos ng events or communitmee ngs organized in accordance with the needs and aspira ons of the residents. Withthis in mind, the design will o er the possibilit of enlarging the footprint of the buildingb using temporal or removable devices, like a tent-fabric.

Above: Cross ven la on with manuall adjustable louvres Above: Summer Cooling S stem


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Tsai Design Studios - Vissershok Container ClassroomThe Vissershok Primar School located at Durbanville valle (on the outskirts in CapeTown) is a rural school dedicated to children of farm workers and underprivilegedcommuni es living in Du Noon. The 12-meter rec cled container is an independentclassroom for 25 students aged 5-6.

This case stud is anal sed for the designs e ec veness in being minimal et robust.The internal classroom space is exible in capacit desks and chairs are taken outwhen needed for schooling hours, and the are stored awa to create a child-friendllearning corner. Moreover, the connec on between the internal space with the externaldesigned spaces is a good example to be taken for the projects space planning.

Sean Godsell Architects - Future ShackThe Future Shack is a mass producedrelocatable house for emergenc andrelief housing. The stud looks into thestructure of the design, par cularlthe parasol roof that is ini all packedinside the container and the mobilit ofthe scheme as a whole.

Tsai Design Studios - Piketberg Sports Centre, South AfricaThis Sports-In-A-Box container scheme is brie anal sed for its recognisedsustainabilit in design, as well as its e cienc as a solu on to provide for the demandof a safe and cost e ec ve sports centre. The simplicit of the structure is also noted.


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1818P r e

c e d en

t s

Precedents

Architecture for Humanity - Oguaa Football for Hope Centre, GhanaSimilar to the Africa ICT Classroom brief, the Oguaa Football for Hope Centre is asuccessful design in integra ng shipping containers into its scheme. Located in Ghana,the building promotes passive design scheme, cost e cienc and adap vit of localresources.

Two 12-meter long shipping containers were designed to be within an outer shellcomprising of sca olding as the structure for the ver cal bamboo screenings. The roofseems to be of a light weight structure sca olding truss beams, bamboo-strip ceiling,light-weight roo ng material and ceiling fans for adequate ven la on. These are someof the aspects anal sed for the project and thus the Oguaa Football for Hope Centre isthe teams main precedent stud .


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19 C on

cl u

s i on

Conclusion

It is the inten on of this research summar and the topics addressed within it to havemade clear the major factors that will in uence the nal outcome of the I.C.T. ClassroomsProject.

At the micro scale, the container classroom will help address the challenges ofimplemen ng I.C.T. into the curriculum b providing teachers and students with acomfortable, a ordable space designed speci call to enhance their teaching andlearning experience. The classroom will bring together communi es in both urban andrural areas b making use of local materials and labour in the construc on process.Access to technolog and learning resources will also be made available to membersof the communit outwith school hours, encouraging further educa on and bene ngever one.

At the macro scale, the newl designed I.C.T. classroom is to be a s mbol of movingforward and expansion b providing the African people with educa onal tools and skillsthat will bene t the na ons infrastructure and econom as a whole.

ESALA Projects is a pro-bono design team, aiming to illustrate through this reportthe contextual background to Ghana and the resources available for the design ofthe protot pe displa classroom, which is planned to be built in the grounds of theGhanaian House of Parliament in November 2013. We hope that the success of thisdesign venture will enable loca on-speci c versions of this protot pe to be distributedacross Africa and other countries around the world. We hope that it can help progessinfrastructure and in doing so, provide more children and communi es access toa ordable informa on and provide a solu on for universal, innova ve teaching spacesfor interna onal developing na ons.

ESALA Projects Team

Alia Aida, Timilehin Fagbemi, Jonathan L nn, Shaun McLeod, Suzanne Priestle , FengQui and Tan a Saroglou.Team Co-ordinator: Ola Uduku


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D E S I G N P R O P O S A L S S U M M A Ry

ICT Classrooms ProjectESALA Projects

16-09-2013


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Furniture Proposal

The design of the classrooms furniture requires theconsidera on of a few ke areas:

- Varia on in terms of use of the space- The di erent users of the space- Poten al class sizes & curricular requirements- Working environment created

Following the sugges on of moun ng the computers onarms, we began to explore the no on of an adaptablespace that could be facilitated b movable furniture. Bmoun ng the computers to central poles we can allowthem to move without risking their securit or safet . Thisconcept is also advantageous as it allows the classroom tobe safel locked at night.

The proposed furniture design involves a basic circularcon gura on, which would be orientated around thecentral computer poles. Addi onal desks, which can bestored neatl underneath the main tables could then befreel movable. These addi onal desks could also be usedto adapt the la out of working space facilita ng, individual,small group, large group and presenta on work. This willalso enable all of the furniture and computers to remainsafel inside the locked container when the classroom isclosed.


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40 ContainerThe most prominent feature of our proposal is the folding wall on the fronteleva on, which once opened out will form the oor plate of the classroom. Thiswill not onl increase the oor area but will also provide a base for the rest of thestructure.

The suppor ng structure for the roof is metal sca old, which o ers a simple assembland is a cost e ec ve op on for structure. Where possible this structure will alsobe able to clip onto the container, minimising the need for further founda ons.

Following the revision of our ini al concept we have also altered the roof form toimprove the maximum ield of the solar panels. We have also adapted the la out

to allow for a single securit shu er, which will isolate the container safel , makingit a secure space at night.

Our aim throughout the project was to provide a space which can be cooled usingonl passive strategies. As cross ven la on has been calculated to be the moste ec ve method of doing so, we have been careful to maximise air ow whereverpossible. To enable this, the design features a large window in the back wall withoperable louvers as well as an open front eleva on.

The inclusion of a generous overhanging roof on all sides provides solar shadingfor the windows and openings. This is another popular technique commonl used

P R O P O S A L 1


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Folding Container Wall Founda on Operable Louvers

Bamboo Cladding

40 Container

Sca old Structure

Roof Panels


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BAMBOO LOGS PROVIDEMODERATE RAIN SHELTER

5 0 0

1m ROOF OVERHANGPROVIDING PROTECTIONFOR WIND AND RAIN

1000

MANUALLY MOVABLEBLINDS CAN CLOSE TOPROVIDE PROTECTIONFROM WIND AND RAIN

CONTAINER LIFTED FROMGROUND LEVEL

SHUTTERS FIXED IN THE FRONTELEVATION CLOSING FOR

PLASTIC CURTAIN TO SEALINTERNAL ELEVATIONSDURING RAIN


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2x20 ContainersUsing a similar concept to our ini al proposal, this design features two 20containers placed opposite each other, both with a folding front eleva on. Asis with the proposal for the 40 container, the addi onal sca old structurecan also be assembled on site with the oor plate providing a base.

The use of spaced bamboo cladding and large open windows with operablelouvers allows cross ven la on to act as the primar cooling method. Rollingshu ers a ached to each crate will provide the necessar securit for eachcontainer to be totall isolated when necessar .

The roof form is a closer design to the ini al concept and includes an opening

at the top to allow for an stack ven la on that ma occur. The pitch of theroof also o ers an op mum angle for the solar panels that would be mountedon top.

P R O P O S A L 2


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Roof Panels

Sca old Structure

20 Container

Bamboo Cladding

Founda on

Opening in Roof

Operable Bamboo Louvers


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ICT CLASSROOMS PROJECT

ESALA Projects6/10/2013


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C O N T E N T S

Ligh ng Consulta on Page 37Sun Stud Page 38

Site Strateg Page 40

Proposal 1Da - me Visualisa on Page 42Night- me Visualisa on Page 43Site Plan Page 44La out Diagrams Page 45Sec on on AA Page 46Front Eleva on Page 47Sec on on BB Page 48 Assembl Diagram Page 49

Proposal 2Da - me Visualisa on Page 51 Night- me Visualisa on Page 52Site Plan Page 53 La out Diagrams Page 54 Sec on on AA Page 55Sec on on BB Page 56Assembl Diagram Page 57

Furniture Examples Page 58

Technical Informa on Page 59

Credits Page 67


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38


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38 S U N P A T H S T UD

y | 4 0 f

C O N T A I NE

R

INSOL ATION: 21st December

INSOL ATION: 21st June

Accra, GhanaGhana Accra lat. 5.6 degrees

39b


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S u n P a t h S t u d | 2

2 0 f C o n t a i n e r

INSOL ATION: 21st June

INSOL ATION: 21st December

The stud reveals that 2x20 and 40 feet containers are protected from solar exposure both during winter and summer months. Furthermore, sun ra s are almost ver calduring the da throughout the ear.

As a result photovoltaic panels on roof structure will have more or less op mum performance regardless of orienta on as long as roof angle does not exceed 10 degrees.

40


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S I T E

S T R A T E

G y

N

NE

SW


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P R O P O S A L1

42


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43


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44


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S I T E

P L A

N | S C A L E 1

: 5 0

N

45 45


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L A y O U T D

I A G R A M S | 4 0 f C O N T A I NE

R

Flexible WorkingNTS

Full Capacit UseNTS

Communit UseNTS

46


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D I A G R A M M A T I C S E

C T I O N O N A A | S C A L E 1

: 5 0

A A

Fixed power outlets Storage space fortable legs

Storage for table tops

Storage space for ba erieswith a perforated back forven la on

Gantr Cupboard for pole-mountedcomputers

Cupboard for desk-mountedcomputers

47


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F R O N T E L E

V A T I O N | S C A

L E 1

: 5 0

48


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S E C T I O N O NB B

| S C A L E 1

: 5 0

B

B

49 49


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S E Q UE

N C E

O F A S S E MB L

y | 4 0 f C O N T A I NE

R

1 . Containe r i s l i ed onto founda ons 2 . Open ings a re c reat ed, wa ll fo ld s down to c reat e oo r p lat e 3 . Pr imar s truc tu re

4. Bamboo cladding 5. Louvres 6. Roof


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P R O P O S A L2

51


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52


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53


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S I T E

P L A

N | S C A L E 1

: 5 0

N

54


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L A y O U T D

I A G R A M S | 2

x 2

0 f C O N T A I NE

R

Flexible WorkingNTS

Full Capacit UseNTS

Communit UseNTS

55


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S E C T I O N O N A A | S C A L E 1

: 5 0

A

A

56


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S E C T I O N O NB B

| S C A L E 1

: 5 0

B B

57


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S E Q UE

N C E

O F A S S E MB L y

| 2 x 2

0 F T C O N T A I NE

R

1. Containers are l i ed onto founda ons 2. Openings are created, wall folds down to create oor plate 3. Primar s tructure

4. Bamboo cladding 5. Louvres 6. Roof

Similar to the diagrams of the 40 container, the following images show the sequence of assembl 2x20 containers While we have focused on these solu ons, it is possible that the footprint of the structure could be reducedor extended via a single 20 container or a 2 x40 op on, depending on the needs of the communit .

58F

Main concept for furniture featuring computers mounted to metal poles, which areh d t t t


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F U R N I T U R E E

x A M P L E

S Line of Movement

Op on A: Example sourced from Rhubarb Solu ons Op on B: Example sourced from Sung Jang LaboratorRemovable table legs made from maple.

a ached to a gantr s stem.

Steel gantr s stem is to be a ached to the roof of the container with a suppor ngframework.

59PLAN OF 40 Feet CONTAINER


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scale 1:50

B

B

12000

2 5 1 0

2 4 0 0

10000

A A

10350

COMPUTERS FIXED ONTOMOVABLE ARMS ANCHORED

ONTO FREE STANDING TABLES

COMPUTERS FIXED ONTOMOVABLE ARMS ANCHORED AROUND METAL POLES.THE POLES ARE ATTACHEDONTO A ROOF GUN RAIL

SYSTEM FOR MOVING WITHINTHE SPACE.

5 x BATTERIES LOCATED INCENTRAL BACK WALL FURNITURE

WITH PERFORATED BACK SIDEFOR EXHAUSTION OF FUMES

WINDOWS ON BACK ELEVATION WITH

MANUALLY MOVABLE LOUVERS FOR ADVANCING NATURAL VENTILATION

HORIZONTAL BAMBOO LOGS FIXEDONTO BAMBOO FRAME.BAMBOO APPLICATION IS DENSERON THE LOWER AND UPPER AREASOF THE ELEVATIONS FOR ADVANCEPROTECTION FROM WEATHER.IN THE MIDDLE PART THE BAMBOO ARE SPREAD MORE WIDELY ALLOWING FOR MORE NATURALLIGHT WITHIN THE INTERIOR

LINE OF ROOF EXTENSION

BACK WALL FURNITURE FORSTORING TABLE TOPS AND

REMOVABLE TABLE LEGS

10 m. WIDE STANDARD SIZEPERFORATED SHUTTER FIXED IN

THE CONTAINER FRONTFOR SECURITY

6040 Feet CONTAINER OCCUPATION LAYOUT


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Flexible layout

Classroom layout

Community layout

6140 Feet CONTAINER


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Door end

of shipping

container.

Front Elevation

2 8 0 0

5 0 0

2133

120001000


WINDOWS ON BACK ELEVATION WITHMANUALLY MOVABLE LOUVERS FOR ADVANCING NATURAL VENTILATION

2133 2133 2133 2133

1000

Section A-A

2 8 0 0

5 0 0

7 5 0

1 6 5 0

120001000 1000

705 1545 3280 700 3280 1545 705

7 5 0

7 0 0

1 7 0 0

4 No. POWER OUTLETS FORCONNECTING MOVABLE COMPUTERTABLES AND POLES WITHIN THE INTERIOR

40 Feet CONTAINERscale 1:50

COMPUTERS FIXED ONTOMOVABLE ARMS ANCHORED AROUND METAL POLES.THE POLES ARE ATTACHEDONTO A ROOF GUN RAILSYSTEM FOR MOVING WITHINTHE SPACE.

BACK WALL FURNITURE FOR STORING

TABLE TOPS AND REMOVABLE TABLE LEGS

WINDOWS ON BACK ELEVATIONWITH MANUALLY MOVABLELOUVERS FOR ADVANCING

NATURAL VENTILATION

5 x BATTERIES LOCATED INCENTRAL BACK WALL FURNITURE

WITH PERFORATED BACK SIDEFOR EXHAUSTION OF FUMES

7 5 0



6240 Feet CONTAINER


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NEW FLOOR FINISH FORLEVELING INTERIOR AND

EXTERIOR FLOOR HEIGHT

WINDOWS ON BACK ELEVATIONWITH MANUALLY MOVABLE

BLINDS FOR ADVANCINGNATURAL VENTILATION

COMPUTERS FIXED ONTO MOVABLE

ARMS ANCHORED AROUND METAL POLES

10 meter WIDE STANDARD SIZE SHUTTER

FIXED IN THE CONTAINER FRONT FOR SECURITY

LOCATION OF GUN RAIL FOR ADJUSTING

COMPUTER POLES WITHIN CONTAINER

CUPBOARD FOR STORING

MOVABLE METAL POLES

FURNITURE FOR STORING TABLE TOPS

Section B-B with Cross Ventilation Strategiesscale 1:25

6 x PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS ANCHORED

ONTO THE ROOF OF THE CONTAINER

HORIZONTAL BAMBOO LOGS FIXED ONTOBAMBOO FRAME.BAMBOO APPLICATION IS DENSER ON THELOWER AND UPPER AREAS OF THE ELEVATIONSFOR ADVANCE PROTECTION FROM WEATHER.IN THE MIDDLE PART THE BAMBOO ARE SPREADMORE WIDELY ALLOWING FOR MORE NATURALLIGHT WITHIN THE INTERIOR

63PLAN OF 2 x 20 Feet CONTAINER


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BB

6000

4500

4 8 0 0

A

A

2 4 0 0

2 4 0 0

4500

6000

4500

scale 1:50



AROUND METAL POLES.THE POLES ARE ATTACHED ONTO

A ROOF GUN RAIL SYSTEM FORMOVING WITHIN THE SPACE.






AROUND METAL POLES.THE POLES ARE ATTACHED ONTO

A ROOF GUN RAIL SYSTEM FORMOVING WITHIN THE SPACE.

3 x BATTERIES LOCATED IN BACKWALL FURNITURE WITHPERFORATED BACK SIDE FOREXHAUSTION OF FUMES

BACK WALL FURNITURE FORSTORING TABLE TOPS ANDREMOVABLE TABLE LEGS.FURNITURE INCORPORATES2 No. POWER OUTLETS

2 x BATTERIES LOCATED IN BACKWALL FURNITURE WITHPERFORATED BACK SIDE FOREXHAUSTION OF FUMES

4.5 m. WIDE SHUTTERS FIXED IN THEFRONT ELEVATION FOR SECURITY

642 x 20 Feet CONTAINER OCCUPATION LAYOUT


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Flexible layout Classroom layout Community layout

652 x 20 Feet CONTAINER Section B -B


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HORIZONTAL BAMBOO LOGS FIXEDONTO BAMBOO FRAME.

BAMBOO APPLICATION IS DENSERON THE LOWER AND UPPER AREASOF THE ELEVATIONS FOR ADVANCE

PROTECTION FROM WEATHER.IN THE MIDDLE PART THE BAMBOO

ARE SPREAD MORE WIDELY ALLOWING FOR MORE NATURAL

LIGHT WITHIN THE INTERIOR

WINDOWS ON SIDE ELEVATIONWITH MANUALLY MOVABLE

LOUVERS FOR ADVANCINGNATURAL VENTILATION

SITTING BENCH ON WESTSIDE FOR CASUAL WAITING

AND CONVERSATIONS

scale 1:25

PREFABRICATED METALLIC STEPS

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2 x 20 Feet CONTAINER SECTION A - A with cross & stack ventilation


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5 0 0

2 8 8 0

2400 2400

9720

4.5 m. WIDE SHUTTERS FIXED IN THEFRONT ELEVATION FOR SECURITY

1000 1000

500

7 0 0

1 7 0 0

7 5 0

NEW FLOOR FINISH FORLEVELING INTERI OR AND

EXTERIOR FLOOR HEIGHT

WINDOWS ON SIDE ELEVATIONWITH MANUALLY MOVABLELOUVERS FOR ADVANCING

NATURAL VENTILATION


AROUND METAL POLES

CUPBOARD FORSTORING COMPUTERS

3 x PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS ANCHORED ONTO THE ROOF

OF THE CONTAINER

3 x PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS ANCHORED ONTO THE ROOFOF THE CONTAINER

1 0

5

COMPUTERS FIXED ONTO

MOVABLE ARMS ANCHOREDONTO FREE STANDING TABLES

0.5 M. MINIMUM DISTANCE FOR CUTTING AWAY PARTS OF THE CONTAINER

SCALE 1:50


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ESALA Project Team

Alia AidaJonathan L nnShaun McLeod

Suzanne PriestleTan a Saroglou

Feng Qui

Documents

Aleutia Solar Container Classroom