Story Behind Kilifi Village School With Unique Building Designs

At the heart of Kilifi County stands a primary school that not only serves as an institution of learning but also as a testament to the power of architectural innovation.

With its one-of-a-kind design, the Eco Moyo Education Center has become a beacon of creativity owing to the combination of traditional and modern architecture.

Started in 2013 in Dzunguni village, the developers of the school aim to meet its goals of conserving the environment, hence the nickname the Green School.

The institution, founded by Lindsay Sanner, offers free education to needy students. As of 2022, the number of students enrolled at the school stood at 200. 

Construction of the centre was made possible through financial resources generated from an event known as the Eco Moyo Auction.

“Eco Moyo is modelled on Green School Principals and the Montessori Education Method, with emphasis on practical approaches to each subject together with ethics, ecology, training in individual thinking and communication skills,” read the school description on architectural platform Arch Daily.  

Eco Moyo’s architecture is credited to a global architectural firm, The Scarcity and Creativity Studio, which has done various projects in Norway and South Africa.

In maintaining the village’s traditional architecture dominated by mud houses, the building designers adopted the soil colour for the walls.

On the other hand, the buildings are designed to allow proper lighting during the day to maintain its goals of conserving the environment.

“The roof trusses are built with softwood and covered with corrugated metal sheets. The roofs drain all rainwater into two large water tanks to the back.

“A fabric ceiling (not yet installed) hung under the trusses will stop radiation from the metal roof sheets from reaching the occupants,” the architect company details.

The centre was built using locally sourced materials, predominantly stones and timber obtained from the nearby Casuarina forest. This decision was aimed at reducing the environmental impact associated with transportation.

Another standout feature of the centre is its iconic library, a structure that came into existence in 2017. This library has earned a reputation for its distinctive design, particularly its open spaces that facilitate the natural flow of refreshing breezes throughout the building.