John Alexander Correa - ABAY Ethiopia Satellite Preschools

The ABAY Ethiopia Satellite Preschools (or AESP for short) are constituted of modular, seismically-resistant, hexagonal pods spread throughout two sites in the Oromo region of Ethiopia - Dillu and Hiddi. These pods are constructed from locally available materials built literally from the surrounding soils primarily utilizing Compressed Earth Block. The pods are passively engineered to heat and cool themselves in the temperate climate of the Ethiopian Highlands.

In the face of climate change, water efficiency is maximized to sustain the school in times of drought and famine – sustaining the numerous crops within the vegetable garden. Aside from the small garden plots, the only vegetation on site is native - drastically reducing water consumption and attracting an array of native fauna. The native vegetation also assists in sustaining thermal comfort with as windbreaks against the chilly northern winds during the cool season and as a security measure with thorns.

In terms of spatial organization, the pods are arranged in a manner that permits uninterrupted views of all courtyard spaces for the safety of the children. The spatial arrangement and orientation of the Hexapods permits maximum radiation the hit the trombe walls heating the spaces. Socially, the arrangement of the Hexapods also functions as an act of play for the students as they wind throughout the project encountering various hidden courtyards as they progress throughout the site.

This act of ‘play’ has been actively incorporated in numerous other features throughout the site. The sites ‘play’ is intentioned to introduce recreation and sensorial discovery as a mean of curbing dropout rates. ‘Play’ can be observed in the way the winds move through site, the sounds produced by the surrounding gutter system, the fireplace, the seasonal blooming and fruiting of the multitude of the native vegetation, among many other features.