education campus.
karat school project

The Karat School Project is a 25,000 sq. ft. education campus in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, designed to inspire learning, foster community, and prioritize sustainability. Developed in close collaboration with local partners, the project creates a dynamic, nurturing environment for children ages 5–14 through trauma-informed and climate-responsive design.

At the heart of the school is a central courtyard, embodying the Ivorian spirit of akwaba—“welcome.” This shared outdoor space invites play, gardening, rainwater harvesting, and community gathering, all while promoting natural ventilation through its rammed-earth walls and wind-optimized design.

On the ground floor, key communal spaces—including a STEAM room, kitchen, and administrative offices—anchor the campus and encourage hands-on learning and innovation. The STEAM room’s adjacency to the courtyard enhances the opportunity for outdoor discovery and experimentation, while the open, light-filled entry creates a sense of transparency, safety, and warmth for students and visitors alike.

The upper floors house flexible classrooms designed for optimal daylight, natural ventilation, and thermal comfort. The first upper floor serves younger students (ages 5–8), integrating a garden patio that acts as an extension of the classroom and supports experiential learning. The second upper floor hosts classrooms for older students (ages 8–14) and introduces wind chimneys to naturally flush warm air from interior spaces.

Each classroom incorporates thoughtful design features, including dedicated storage, integrated garden zones, and vibrant accent colors that foster a sense of identity and belonging for every grade level. Sliding partitions offer spatial flexibility, and cross-ventilation is enhanced through strategic orientation and operable shading devices.

Above it all, the roof system is engineered for sustainability, featuring solar panels, a double-roof for passive cooling, and rainwater collection infrastructure—all vital strategies for resilience in a warming climate.

The Karat School Project represents a powerful vision for education in West Africa: one that supports children’s well-being, embraces community, and models sustainable design for future learning environments in the region.