top of page

Teach on the Beach

A Modular School and Community Hub

Built area: 511m²

Covered area: 1080m²


The core idea is to create a modular, low-cost educational facility that requires no skilled labor to build—more than just a school, it’s a community hub with education at its heart.


Each functional unit is treated as a standalone building, allowing for phased construction. At every stage, the site looks complete. All blocks are unified under a freestanding roof structure—like a giant shading umbrella—that also shelters the public spaces between them.


The roof is built with standard scaffolding: affordable, accessible, and easy to assemble. We designed a 5.7×5.7m orthogonal grid that fits standard 6m scaffolding pipes, reducing waste and cost. It’s topped with corrugated steel sheets, providing protection from sun and rain.


Walls are made from compressed earth bricks—a local, sustainable material. Since the roof is structurally independent, it can be built first, creating a shaded workspace to gradually complete the enclosed spaces underneath.


Two rooftop terraces (18m² each) are stacked as a light scaffolding tower—one at 3.1m overlooking the inner plaza, the other at 6.1m opening toward the wider landscape.


The design promotes equality and inclusion. It blends with the village through its scale, openness, and use of local materials—offering a shared space for both locals and volunteers.

Location: Busua, Ghana

Year: 2023

Area: 1040 sqm

Status: competition entry

bottom of page