Future Rural Schools of Morocco
Place-Based Design for Early Childhood Learning
Designed place-based rural preschool prototypes in Morocco using local materials, climate-responsive strategies, and site-adaptive spatial systems.
Research Project · KU Leuven
Role: Concept Development · Site Analysis · Architectural Design · Interior Design · Technical Drawings
Team: Hana Khurshid, Esma Sena Balci, Tom Detry
Future Rural Schools of Morocco explores how architecture rooted in place, materiality, and climate can support early childhood learning in rural contexts. Developed as part of a collaborative studio supported by the Good Planet Foundation, the project proposes two pre-schools in Tidli and Tamgounsi - responding to distinct landscapes while sharing a common design logic.
The work investigates how spatial organization, light, and material can influence children’s well-being and cognitive development. Rather than imposing new forms, both schools adapt to existing site conditions, using local materials and construction logics to create environments that are both grounded and playful.
Design Approach
The two proposals share a systemic rammed-earth column strategy that allows variation without losing coherence. This approach balances structural clarity with spatial richness, creating flexible learning environments that remain deeply connected to their surroundings.
By working with existing foundations, terrain, and material resources, the designs minimize intervention while maximizing environmental and social value, demonstrating how architecture can respond sensitively to context without sacrificing spatial quality.
Tidli (Left), Tamgounsi (Right)
Tidli
Tidli Plan - Before
Tidli Plan - After
The Tidli pre-school builds upon existing ruins and site remnants, incorporating recovered rubble and foundations into the new structure. The rammed-earth column system respects the existing organization while introducing spaces scaled to children’s needs. The design emphasizes continuity—allowing the site’s history to remain legible while supporting new modes of learning and play.
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Tidli Floor Plan
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Tidli Section 1
Tidli Section 2
Axonometric of Components
Blow-Up Section Detail
Blow-Up Section Detail
Tamgounsi
Tamgounsi Plan - Before
Tamgounsi Plan - After
In Tamgounsi, the pre-school is partially embedded within the sloped terrain. Reinforced concrete elements act as retaining structures, while the rammed-earth system maintains material continuity with Tidli. The semi-buried form improves thermal performance and creates opportunities for layered play spaces that engage directly with the landscape.
Tamgounsi Floor Plan
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Tamgounsi Section 1
Tamgounsi Section 2
Axonometric of Components
Blow-Up Section Detail