The 2017 Design Miami Visionary Award goes to collaborative school project in Zambia | CNN

The 2017 Design Miami Visionary Award goes to collaborative school project in Zambia

Oscar Holland, CNN
2 minute read
Published 12:50 PM EDT, Mon September 18, 2017
The Mwabwindo School in Zambia has been named the winner of this year's Panerai Design Miami Visionary Award.
The Mwabwindo School in Zambia has been named the winner of this year's Panerai Design Miami Visionary Award.
Courtesy of Selldorf Architects
The school's design comprises mud-brick classrooms set around a series of courtyards.
The school's design comprises mud-brick classrooms set around a series of courtyards.
Courtesy of Selldorf Architects
Inspired by the trees of the surrounding savannah, the corrugated iron roofs provide shade for the school's communal areas.
Inspired by the trees of the surrounding savannah, the corrugated iron roofs provide shade for the school's communal areas.
Courtesy of Selldorf Architects
Facilities for students will include playing fields, an assembly space and a vegetable garden.
Facilities for students will include playing fields, an assembly space and a vegetable garden.
Courtesy of Selldorf Architects
Once open, it is hoped that the school will be used by the wider community in Mwabwindo village.
Once open, it is hoped that the school will be used by the wider community in Mwabwindo village.
Courtesy of Selldorf Architects
The facility is due to open in 2018, when it is expected to provide free education to 200 primary school students.
The facility is due to open in 2018, when it is expected to provide free education to 200 primary school students.
Courtesy of Selldorf Architects
Local builders were employed to construct the school. The mud bricks were made on-site, with craftsmen from the village hired to assemble the furniture.
Local builders were employed to construct the school. The mud bricks were made on-site, with craftsmen from the village hired to assemble the furniture.
Courtesy of Selldorf Architects
While the school's design was led by New York's Selldorf Architects, the award will be shared with the project's other collaborators: artist Rashid Johnson, not-for-profit organization 14+ Foundation and design firm Christ & Gantenbein.
While the school's design was led by New York's Selldorf Architects, the award will be shared with the project's other collaborators: artist Rashid Johnson, not-for-profit organization 14+ Foundation and design firm Christ & Gantenbein.
Courtesy of Selldorf Architects
The architecture firm behind the Mwabwindo School, Selldorf Architects, was founded by Annabelle Selldorf in 1988. The company was established in New York, where it has designed buildings like this residential tower at 200 Eleventh Avenue.
The architecture firm behind the Mwabwindo School, Selldorf Architects, was founded by Annabelle Selldorf in 1988. The company was established in New York, where it has designed buildings like this residential tower at 200 Eleventh Avenue.
Courtesy of Selldorf Architects
In 2015, Selldorf Architects designed the exhibition "Frank Stella: A Retrospective" at The Whitney in New York.
In 2015, Selldorf Architects designed the exhibition "Frank Stella: A Retrospective" at The Whitney in New York.
Courtesy of Selldorf Architects
Before working on Mwabwindo School, Selldorf Architects had designed a number of public facilities in the US, such as this recycling center in Brooklyn, New York.
Before working on Mwabwindo School, Selldorf Architects had designed a number of public facilities in the US, such as this recycling center in Brooklyn, New York.
Courtesy of Selldorf Architects
Art dealer and gallerist David Zwirner hired Annabelle Selldorf to design his gallery in New York's Chelsea neighborhood.
Art dealer and gallerist David Zwirner hired Annabelle Selldorf to design his gallery in New York's Chelsea neighborhood.
Courtesy of Selldorf Architects
Selldorf Architects used glazed terracotta and steel for this 34,000-square-foot building in New York's Bond Street.
Selldorf Architects used glazed terracotta and steel for this 34,000-square-foot building in New York's Bond Street.
Courtesy of Selldorf Architects
Mwabwindo school panerai design miami visionary award
CNN  — 

A school offering free education in rural Africa has been awarded an international design prize, it was announced today. Set to open next year, the Mwabwindo School in southern Zambia was named the winner of this year’s prestigious Panerai Design Miami Visionary Award.

Featuring mud-brick classrooms and a corrugated iron roof, the complex will provide schooling for 200 students. The project also offers playing fields, an assembly space and accommodation for teachers.

One of the firms behind the project, New York’s Selldorf Architects, says that the design was inspired by the nearby savannah. Like the surrounding trees, the school’s roof canopy will provide shaded areas that can serve as gathering places.

Other design innovations include the use of solar panels, a windmill-powered well and a rainwater collection system that feeds into a vegetable garden.

A collaborative effort

The Panerai Design Miami Visionary Award was created four years ago to honor “significant contributions to the field of design.” This year marks the first time that the prize has been won by a collaborative project.

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While Selldorf Architects led the design, the firm shares its award with contemporary artist Rashid Johnson, who created a mural for the school, and 14+ Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that builds and operates education facilities in rural Africa.

Architecture and design firm Christ & Gantenbein is also part of the winning collective, having developed customizable furniture for the school. The company’s “Mwabwindo Series” of wooden tables and stools can be assembled without glue or hardware, and have been built on-site by local craftsmen.

“Being part of a larger team committed to the potential of architecture and beauty to create meaningful change in people’s lives is powerful,” said Selldorf Architects’ founder and principal, Annabelle Selldorf, in a press statement. “Seeing how the school is coming together and how the community in Mwabwindo has already taken it on as a point of local pride is immensely gratifying.”

Empowering the community

The construction process has thus far relied on craftsmen from Mwabwindo village. Bricks were handmade on-site, with local masons employed to build the school’s main structures.

Once open, it is hoped that the facilities will be used by the wider community. Award organizers praised the project not only for its design qualities, but for the “lasting impact” it has on the area it serves.

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“(We are) thrilled to champion the inspiring Mwabwindo School project,” said Design Miami’s chief creative director, Rodman Primack, in a press statement. “This year’s Visionary Award rightly honors the importance of collaboration, innovative partnership and the role design can play in influencing positive social change globally.”

The award will be presented at Design Miami, which takes place 6 to 10 December.