Creating a reading culture

Since the Eastern Cape’s public schools have the fewest functional libraries and computer centres, it is difficult to find a central location where learners from different schools, with no libraries or computer centres, can meet and share library material that include visual and digital media. As mentioned before, transport is another obstacle to overcome. The aim is to allow all learners in the Nelson Mandela Metro access to educational material. Thus, the concept is to make use of a central hub (chosen building) from which mobile ‘pods’ (recycled shipping containers) can be easily transported to several primary schools with no resources, in the Nelson Mandela Metro, and possibly to areas in the Eastern Cape, in order to distribute library material.

The central hub and the mobile ‘pods’ (recycled shipping containers) will be used to create spaces which serve functions such as a library area, computer centre, study/homework area, cafeteria and an integrated playground. The cafeteria will only sell healthy food and drinks to learners to promote healthy eating habits necessary to reach maximal educational potential. The playground will encourage learners to engage in several physical activities. It has been proven that physical activities improve learners’ academic scores.

The functions listed above will together create a secure environment where learners from Grade 1 to 7 will have access to reading material and computers as well as space to do homework or study. Through the sustainable design approach learners will also become aware of their environment and how to take care of it. This resource centre and its mobile ‘pods’ will incorporate valuable environmental lessons and create interactive learning opportunities for learners. 

I truly believe that this reuse proposal will most definitely add value to the education of countless learners in the Nelson Mandela Metro, as well as the Eastern Cape, without access to library material, such as books and computers, as it will provide them with these educational tools at the comfort of their own school. The proposed function will play a critical role in growing our nation. Books open a world of learning for children. The concept of the resource centre and its mobile ‘pods’ are not solely based on the distribution of information in the educational sense, which is important, but also to implant the love of reading, exercising and their environment as well as encourage children to open their imaginations. 

The images below served as inspiration for my B.Tech treatise proposal. The Vissershok container classroom by Tsai Design Studio (top) and the Jerusalem children's home by Four Design and Architecture (bottom). The children's home has been constructed from 28 shipping containers!