Solomon Islands Schools

Following an 8.2 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami devastated the Western, Choisel and Shortland Provinces of the Solomon Islands. 132 schools were damaged or destroyed across a vast area.

David Kaunitz led a team of architects as operations director of Emergency Architects Australia, for 3 years to design standard school buildings that could be used in the reconstruction program. To compliment this several demonstration buildings were built. These projects were used to train local builders who went on to act as site managers. They also allowed the designs to evolve based on the experience of constructing the demonstrations and further imbue them with a vernacular approach.

The demonstrations projects were:

  1. Ngari School Classroom: led by Robbie Dodds with David Kaunitz
  2. Ngari School Dormitories & Staff Housing: led by Richard Briggs & Vicki Hon

THE BRIEF
To design a suite of standard school buildings that were culturally appropriate, easy to build locally, able to be replicated, imbued with local vernacular and reflected best practice.

THE DESIGN APPROACH
The approach was collaborative with local builders and communities. It included a review of the post disaster damage, available materials, local building methods / vernacular and global best practice.

INTERESTING FACT
132 schools were rehabilitated with new classrooms, dormitories, amenities water & sanitation under the RARP Program led by John Bovington & Peter Wopereis

LOCATION:
Western Province Solomon Islands

CLIENT:
Solomon Islands Government, NZAid, EU, UNICEF

AWARDS:
  • 2010 8th Cycle World Architecture Community Awards (Ngari School)

CREDITS:
Structural Engineer: Bruce Hutchison - Chapman Hutchison, Ngari Classroom: Robbie Dodds, Ngari Dormitories & Staff Housing: Richard Briggs & Vicki Hon, RARP Program: John Bovington, Peter Wopereis

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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, please be aware the Kaunitz Yeung Architecture website contains images of deceased persons.

The Kaunitz Yeung Architecture team acknowledges all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across the nation.
We recognise the original Custodians of Country, their ongoing connection to the land, sky, seas, cultures and communities - paying our respects to Elders, past and present.