The Learning Center in Mozambique, Africa, stands as a beacon of opportunity, fostering education for girls and empowering women in their community. Our architectural vision is deeply rooted in creating a social, creative, and nature-connected environment, exemplified by our concentric circle design symbolizing unity and protection. We, along with other architectural competitors/peers, provided these ideas to the Kurandza NGO for them to facilitate the creation of a center for women in the community.

Committed to environmental stewardship, we emphasize energy efficiency and utilize solar energy and water collection on-site, this is crucial for an environment which struggles with drought often. The center’s roofs are adorned with solar panels, generating electrical energy that powers the facility, with surplus power available for the outer community.

Additionally, we repurposed existing sheds, transforming them into storage tanks for collected water used for irrigation, plumbing, and drinking. While, intending to involve students in the design process by inviting them to paint mural artwork on the sheds, fostering a sense of ownership and community involvement.

Our sustainable architectural approach extends to the construction materials we employ. By utilizing locally sourced materials such as bamboo, thatch, adobe brick, and stucco, we minimized environmental impact and promoted neighborhood belonging, while adhering to budgetary constraints.

At the heart of The Learning Center lies a multipurpose space centered around a mango tree for informal learning and community gatherings, with built-in seating that converts into outdoor classrooms or performance areas. Programmatic elements like tutoring spaces, recreation areas, and ecological gardens promote diversified education and sustainable practices.

With mindful use of local materials and playful design, the Learning Center emerges as a sustainable, community-focused sanctuary, nurturing future women leaders with knowledge and empowerment, reflecting our dedication to sustainability and community enrichment.