Seed Library by Architects of Justice

Описание: 4SA Successful Submission
in the AfriSam SAIA Award for Sustainable Architecture 2014

The Seed Library provides a space for the learners and teachers of MC Weiler Primary School to research, discover, interact and reflect. However, the Seed Library is not the original design for the library that was put forward by the Architects of Justice (AOJ) team. A problem was encountered when the nonprofit creative agency, MAL Foundation, that commissioned the AOJ to design the library could not secure adequate funding. The AOJ revised their design that enabled the MAL Foundation to acquire funding.

The new design of the Seed Library thus serves as a seed for schools that would use it to prove to potential sponsors and funders that a more permanent space is workable and can be maintained.

The Seed Library is a semipermanent building that the AOJ have described as ‘litmus paper’ in that it serves as a blueprint for a library that schools would need to prove to donors that they have the capacity to maintain. The Seed Library has been made from two shipping containers that can be moved to another location.

The AOJ re-used materials that originally had a different function of transporting goods. The shipping containers have been transformed into a colourful and dynamic space.

These containers will be re-used again when the Seed Library is moved to another school. By using the Seed Library as ‘litmus paper’ the impact on the environment is lessened in that schools will not run the risk of building structures that are not workable and that they cannot maintain.

The Seed Library is equipped with passive environmental controls, making use of the sun and wind to create a comfortable environment within the building. With the exception of the energy saving LED lighting system fitted to the interior of the library the building has an operational carbon footprint of zero.