SOUTH FIELD SCHOOL
An Education in Architecture
Enhancing learning for Underprivileged Children
Schools are critical communities that shape our attitudes and habits. For the underprivileged Cambodian kids supported by Pour un Sourire d'Enfant, an education is a stepping stone to a better life for them and their families. Founded in 1995, the organization has supported thousands with education, vocational training, and social services, primarily from their sprawling flagship campus. To manage the continued growth of the school, Bloom was called on to help transform it to accommodate students efficiently in a comfortable, safe and inspiring facility.
The existing vernacular wooden buildings built by the founders had to be removed as they were structurally unsound and ridden with termites. To honor this architectural heritage and promote sustainability, some of the original wood was salvaged and treated in the Japanese method of Shou Sugi Ban. This environmentally-friendly charring process improves the wood’s durability, protects it from termites, and reduces the need for maintenance. The treated wood was then integrated into the new buildings in the form of permeable dividers, awnings and decorative facades, featured most notably in a unique entrance pavilion.
Removing the existing buildings gave us more freedom to orientate the new structures around a functional courtyard where students could assemble and play. Reclaiming this internal space also served as an opportunity to address another key issue; flooding.
Seasonal flooding occasionally forced the students to wade through knee-deep water in between classes. To mitigate this, we installed a large tank beneath the courtyard to store storm water. The presence of the tank restricted us from building or planting in that zone, however this allowed us to make it the focus of a much-needed open assembly area.
Existing mature trees were retained and more added to give shade and a connection to nature. These new trees will eventually grow to the full height of the new three-storey structures which combine to form a gently curving L-shape around the courtyard.
These buildings house 43 new classrooms, which are brighter, cleaner, cooler and safer than the previous ones. Intentionally avoiding air-conditioning as an economical and sustainable measure, we designed each space to privilege natural ventilation. As well as the use of large windows and the strategic use of terracotta breezeblocks, the roof is disconnected from the main structure to allow airflow. Furthermore, stairwell cavities create transparency across the whole building, turning it into one long channel for cross breezes. Together, these features ensure greater comfort for students and prevent the school closures that heatwaves once caused.
Materials have been chosen with intentional economy, demonstrating the values of sustainability and resourcefulness to the students. Along with the reclaimed wood, we have featured roughly-finished concrete, terracotta tiles and bricks - all locally-sourced and reflective of the natural colors of the region.
To witness the daily ritual of 1200 students assembling in the redeveloped courtyard before dispersing to their new classrooms brings home the scale of the project and its potential impact. A good education relies on many factors, at the heart of which is the wellbeing and dignity of the students themselves. Designing spaces that help cultivate strong academic and social principles is something we are proud of. It is a purpose that highlights the potential of architecture, and its direct role in affecting the lives of the community.