SAOTA: mankgaile primary school

‘mankgaile primary school’ by SAOTA, polokwane, limpopo, south africa image © SAOTA

cape town-based architectural practice SAOTA has completed the ‘mankgaile primary school’ for a rural village outside the city of polokwane in limpopo, south africa. as a replacement to the existing school, the new facility also serves as a gathering place for residents reinforcing its position as a community asset. a stepped podium may be used as an impromptu forum with overarching views of the adjacent village.

stepped podium image © SAOTA

the main entrance is placed at the end of a linear spine which arranges the central public square and two open air classroom courtyards containing nine rooms on two levels. open air double story volumes are capped with a pergola of latte supported by a colonnade of steel posts to provide shade from the strong afternoon sun. the light is filtered creating dappled patterns through the outdoor corridors. restroom facilities are easily accessed during school and after school events.

veranda wraps perimeter of building image © SAOTA

‘being the most important building in the village and as it will be used as the village community centre, place of gathering, functions and sporting events it was felt that the building needed to have a presence and a stature for the community. a formal and symmetrical arrangement was felt to be most appropriate to reinforce this aspect.’ – stefan antoni, project partner

colonnaded walkway image © SAOTA

interior courtyard image © SAOTA

(left) stairs to classroom spaces (right) carved plaster facade images © SAOTA

(left) dappled light filters through latte pergola (right) open air corridor leads to interior image © SAOTA

filtered light softly illuminates corridorimages © SAOTA

classroom images © SAOTA

project info:

project name: mankgaile primary school location: limpopo architects: saota – stefan antoni olmesdahl truen architects project team: stefan antoni & greg truen completion date: 2006 awards: south african institute of architects merit award in 2006 photographs: saota