Classe Rouge project aims to create an efficient and sustainable classroom model to address educational challenges in the Sahel region. This model, designed for replication across vast areas without requiring skilled labor, offers a solution to Niger’s limited educational infrastructure.
Its key features are as follows:
First, innovative materials. The classroom uses stabilized earth blocks (SEB) made by mixing laterite-rich soil with 6-7% cement, sourced locally. This material is eco-climate effective, providing excellent insulation and maintaining classroom temperatures 5-6 degrees Celsius lower than traditional cement buildings.
Second, structural design. The classroom adopts a tensile arch design, which maintains structural integrity while optimizing material use. This lightweight structure efficiently distributes loads, reducing the need for additional materials and costs.
Finally, sustainability and scalability. The construction process is designed to be simple and rapid, allowing for widespread replication without the need for skilled labor. A mobile formwork system enables quick and cost-effective building.
Through Classe Rouge, the classroom itself becomes an educational tool, showcasing sustainable building methods and encouraging their broader adoption. Overall, this project stands as an exemplary model of resilient, sustainable, and scalable educational infrastructure, promoting harmony between people, society, and the environment in Niger.