The lack of preschool education facilities in many rural areas of Sub-Saharan Africa is a significant obstacle to child development. Education plays a crucial role in nurturing cognitive skills, emotional growth, and social abilities in young children. This urgent need inspired the selection of a nursery school project as the theme for the Kaira Looro Architecture Competition 2025.
This year’s competition offers young professionals and students worldwide the chance to shape the future of education in these regions by proposing innovative, cost-effective, and sustainable solutions that integrate education, socialization, and exploration into a cohesive space.
Participants must focus on using local materials and actively involving the community in the construction process, making the school a reference point for the entire Sub-Saharan African community. The nursery school design should have a maximum area of 650 m² and include functional spaces such as classrooms, offices, educational and play areas, an infirmary, a dining hall, a storage room, and restrooms.
The first prize includes an internship at Kengo Kuma & Associates in Japan, the implementation of the winning project, and a cash award of € 5,000. The second and third prizes are €2,000 and €3,000 respectively, along with internships at prestigious firms such as EMBT – Benedetta Tagliabue in Spain, Amanda Levete Architects in London, and SBGA Blengini Ghirardelli in Milan.
Additionally, the competition will recognize special mentions, honorable mentions, and 35 finalists.
The international jury evaluating the projects will include some of the most renowned architects in the world, such as Kengo Kuma (Kengo Kuma & Associates), Benedetta Tagliabue (Benedetta Tagliabue – EMBT Architects), Rafael Aranda, Carme Pigem, Ramón (RCR Arquitectes), Mario Cucinella (Mario Cucinella Architects), David Adjaye (Adjaye Associates), Amanda Levete (Amanda Levete Architects), Manuel Aires Mateus (Aires Mateus Architects), Giancarlo Mazzanti (El Equipo Mazzanti), Agostino Ghirardelli (SBGA | Blengini Ghirardelli), Raul Pantaleo (TAM Associati), Emmanuelle Moureaux (Emmanuelle Moureaux Architecture + Design), Saad El Kabbaj, Driss Kettani, Mohamed Amine Siana.
All images courtesy of Balouo Salo