Well-known Japanese architect lectures environment friendly architecture for Lao students
(KPL) Japan ’s internationally-recognised architect Kato Takahisa lectured on his intelligent design of the environment friendly architecture for Lao students and architects at the Faculty of Architecture, National University of Laos, yesterday.
One of his intelligently designed architectures is environment friendly primary schools built under the Education for Development Fund project in Savannakhet, Khammouane and Sekong. Twenty-six environment friendly schools has been built and designed by Mr. Kato under the EDF project which is designed to provide scholarship to Lao students, building schooling infrastructures, and enhance capacity building of teachers and health education in Laos.
"We have begun building energy saving schools since 1997 and we will continue constructing similar schools until we are sure that the demand for schools by students resides," said EDF Middle Manager Khamsavang Chanthalay.
Although, it costs 500 million kip to build an environment friendly school but it can take at least 50 years or almost or over 100 years which is much longer than the ordinary school which can be used for only 20 years.
The construction is financed with donations from the Japanese people and the contribution from the project beneficiaries.
"Local parents will contribute timber, some construction materials and expenses on roofing,"said Kongkham Chanmanyvong, the EDF Project Manager.
The project prioritises primary school building because this is in line with the government’s policy on ensuring the Lao children at school-age gain an access to compulsory education.
According to the EDF officials, Mr. Kato’s environment friendly school is not easy to build and its construction needs various factors. Construction materials, land and the contribution of local people are very important. And the school cannot be built on sand and soft ground.
On average, the EDF can build two or three environment friendly schools a year but it is likely that we will be able to build more schools a year in the future. Nevertheless, it depends on the capacity of the EDF and the contribution of local people.
On average each school has five or six classrooms with teachers’ office and externally-built toilets. After the school is built, fast-growing trees, mostly agacia, are planted on both sides of the school building. The trees, according to Mr. Kato, will make the temperature surrounding the school cool.
"Light colour tone is mostly applied to the school so that the light from the sun could permeate into the classroom," said Mr. Kato.
He said that energy could be saved by avoiding using electrical appliances and focusing on controlling natural light and the flow of the air and the selection of materials for construction.
On Wednesday, the government of Laos represented by the Ministry of Education awarded a cross friendship medal to Mr. Kato Takahisa to honour his contribution to the education development in the country. To date his environment friendly schools has benefited over 6000 students in 69 communities in Khammouane, Savannakhet and Sekong.
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