Sustainable Learning Communities

BACKGROUND The shortlisted proposal for the One Heart Foundation Eco Village responds to an open international design competition organised by the One Heart Foundation in 2016. The project included a masterplan for a holistic children’s eco-village complete with the facilities and to create a unique design solution for each of these facilities, in the Provence of Soy, Kakamega County, Kenya. The research identified a gap in the relationship between architecture of educational and community facilities and plurality of learning models that could be facilitated through the built environment. CONTRIBUTION The research contributes to the discourse of learning environments and the connection between pedagogy and spatial quality. The projects innovated in the scalability and typology of these spaces to encourage at different age-groups. The research challenges traditional learning methods by introducing ideas immediately pertinent to pedagogical models and learning environments. These are demonstrated through engaging with multiple hierarchies simultaneously: indoor and outdoor learning spaces, formal and self-directed learning spaces. SIGNIFICANCE This entry was a shortlisted finalist in an international design competition in 2017 by an international panel that included Dean Landy, Director of the One Heart Foundation. Additionally, the project was published on a high-profile internationally recognised design website – Designboom, which receives substantial traffic and exposure. The research offers fresh perspectives for learning through community engagement as well as the architectural role in articulating a robust model and identity, which extends beyond the context of the competition.