African project
Vele Secondary School
What are your thoughts on having a purely digital format of entry?
It worked well. One particular advantage is that the submissions are immediately
accessible for all to see.
The Vele Secondary School project is inspirational and a perfect model of the
type of school desperately needed in SA. What has it been like working on this
project?
We were fortunate that our inspiration came from the amazing social, cultural and
physical geography of this small rural community.
It is important to note that this school was built with the same construction budget as a
standard government school of equivalent size. The major difference was that the design
team were not constrained by any requirement to use standard departmental designs
or documentation. Through our partnership with a progressive NGO (the Creating
Schools Trust) we were paid full fees and given freedom to run an extensive community
engagement programme and to explore design solutions appropriate to site and cultural
context.
What is next for the Vele Secondary School?
The school recently experienced a leadership vacuum with the retirement of the previous
principal. However, a dynamic, experienced new principal has just been appointed and
she has a strong vision for the establishment of the school as a state-of-the-art educational
facility with a strong emphasis on the sustainability features. AD
Read more on the project’s Social Gain Awards win
africandesignmagazine.com
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