Primary School in Tanouan Ibi: Vaults of the Dogon, Location: Tanouan Ibi, Mali

Situated on the vast plains of Dogon Country near the UNESCO-listed Cliff of Bandiagara, the Primary School in Tanouan Ibi is a masterpiece of sustainable, vernacular architecture. Designed to blend seamlessly into the Malian landscape, the building utilizes striking barrel vaults and Hydraulically Compressed Earth Blocks (HCEB). More than just a school, it serves as a training ground for local masons and a meaningful gathering place for the entire village community.

A Meaningful Place in the Plains

In a remote and underdeveloped region where government investment is scarce, this primary school aims to safeguard the education and social development of the Malian youth. Developed and built in equal partnership with the local community, the project ensures the highest level of commitment and sustainability because the building truly belongs to them.

The Vision: Education and Community

The architecture is directly inspired by local traditions and the need for versatile, communal spaces.

Beyond the Classroom: The facility includes three $7 \times 9$ meter classrooms for 180 pupils, a principal’s office, a depot, and a school garden. In the evenings, these spaces are transformed and used for teaching women's literacy and education classes.

The Verandas: Two expansive verandas with built-in benches run parallel to the classrooms. These shaded areas act as a vital, meaningful place for the village community to gather, converse, and rest.

Tectonics: Innovative Earth and Impressive Vaults

The structural design takes traditional clay building methods and elevates them with modern engineering to withstand the extreme climate of hot sunlight and heavy rainfall.

Hydraulically Compressed Earth Blocks (HCEB): The school was built using HCEBs, which are produced using soil directly from the construction site pressed under 20 tons of hydraulic pressure. This method drastically reduces production costs and environmental degradation while providing an incredibly comfortable interior climate.

The Buttressed Barrel Vaults: The two parallel verandas do more than provide shade; they structurally operate as buttresses to capture the heavy outward thrust of the roof's barrel vaults. The roof is covered by a thick layer of red earth mixed with cement to achieve a water-resistant layer, with gargoyles guaranteeing the swift drainage of rainwater.

The Starry Sky: Custom-made ceramic tubes were inserted directly into the vaulted roof. These act as passive ventilators for a pleasant inside climate and allow spots of daylight to filter into the classrooms, creating the beautiful effect of a starry sky.

The Living Building: Spin-off for Local Development

The construction process was designed to be an economic catalyst for the region.

Capacity Building: The school was constructed by newly trained local masons. By developing new techniques based on local construction methods and local materials, the project created a direct spin-off for local economic development, equipping a new generation of builders with marketable skills.

Data Sheet

Project: Primary School in Tanouan Ibi

Location: Tanouan Ibi, Mali

Design Team: Adriaan Mout, Jurriaan van Stigt, Marianne Loof, LEVS Architecten

Completion Year: 2013

Capacity: 180 pupils

Key Materials: Hydraulically Compressed Earth Blocks (HCEB), Ceramic Tubes, Red Earth

Typology: Education / Community Center

Client: Stichting Dogon Onderwijs SDO