Modular structure and ease of replicating the building in Nepal villages, and first of all, seismic resilience and use of sustainable materials are the key challenges our designers faced. The structure made by WAPW students is a modular, single-floor school made of light timber frames. Thanks to their placement on a regular grid measuring 3.75 by 3.75 meters, it is possible to evenly distribute stress, so that during seismic shocks, damage to one module does not compromise the integrity of the others. The modular structure also allows the building elements to be adapted to a specific plot or terrain conditions.

Winning project of the school designed by the WUT Faculty of Architecture students

Winning project of the school designed by the WUT Faculty of Architecture students

The interior of the frames is filled with special interchangeable panels made from locally sourced materials, such as woven fibre or bamboo, allowing the building to be adapted to available resources and the local climate. The panels also enable the interior to be divided into rooms, as they are soundproof. The structure can be easily modified without affecting its integrity - the walls and roof can be additionally insulated, reinforced, or fitted with mechanical systems.

Winning project of the school designed by the WUT Faculty of Architecture students

The structure is built on concrete or stone plinths, raising it 90 cm above ground level to protect the building from potential flooding. The entire structure is covered with a gable roof supported by a system of wooden trusses, made of corrugated steel sheets and polycarbonate panels, which allow more natural sunlight to enter the interior.

The competition organisers were: Archstorming platform, Karmayog Foundation Nepal and Nepal Rising.