Cool School
Overview
Cool School was a competition organized by Building Trust , an international non-profit charity with a focus on contemporary sustainable solutions for the built environment, to design a cost effective extension to an existing school in Khovd, Mongolia. The traditional vernacular Yurt became an inspirational platform for an engaged and sustainable prototype tailored for the Mongolian landscape.
Location
Khovd is a small town in western Mongolia with extreme continental climate change, and whose main industries revolve around agriculture and rearing sheep. The traditional Mongolian yurt, or ger, is a round, portable and self-supporting nomadic structure crafted for camping in comfort. It does not rely on ropes or stakes to hold itself up and isconstructedwith wool and wood, both accessible materials within this harsh landscape.
Perspectives
A composite design of different functional elements and materials is articulated to achieve a contemporary proposal that is both sensitive and responsive to its context. Openings are introduced with a view to ensuring thermal comfort across different seasons, the roof is insulated with a thick layer of felt for unbeatable thermal insulation, and adobe walls (with a high thermal mass) contain heat efficiently within the interior spaces.
Concept
Our contemporary interpretation of this vernacular structure evolved with a mechanism that would adapt to theareas’climatic conditions and increase energy efficiency across the whole year. An articulated felt membrane acts as a sun shield and as a divider of space, making the classrooms smaller, and hence easier to warm, in winter and larger, offering a greater space for cross ventilation, in summer.
Diagrams
Three prototype modules were designed in response to the briefs requirements of size and function. In addition to the classrooms and multi-function halls articulate with an inclined roof,the third module works as abridge between the main functions and houses additional facilities and functions.
Team: Rani Boustani, Naim Solh, Maamoun Tebbo
