Global Post: The children of Makoko, a waterfront slum in Lagos, Nigeria, might have the world’s most futuristic school. It’s just been shortlisted for the Design of the Year 2014 award by London’s Design Museum and it’s easy to see why.
The Makoko Floating School is a minimalist, open-air structure that combines the adaptive insights of the local community with the best principles of sustainable development.
The three-story, A-frame building floats on recycled plastic barrels and maintains stability, even in heavy winds, thanks to a low center of gravity.
A diagram of the Makoko Floating School, designed by Nigerian architect Kunlé Adeyemi and his Lagos- and Amsterdam-based firm NLÉ. (YouTube/Screenshot)
The first level of the school is a flexible, multi-use playground that transforms into a community space when class is out. The second and third levels contain enclosed classroom and workshop space for up to 100 students, who travel to and from the school by canoe.
Categories: Africa