Floating School

Floating school According to UNICEF, over 772,000 children were affected by flash floods in Bangladesh in 2024. Over the past decade, more than 4,000 children have died due to flooding. With rising sea levels, this number could become unimaginable, forcing migration from downstream to upstream regions. However, Bangladesh is a small, densely populated, and underdeveloped country. The site is in Shyamnagar, Khulna, near the Sundarbans and the Bay of Bengal. The site is surrounded by the Kholpatua River in southwestern Bangladesh, with only one bridge connecting it to the mainland. The goal of this project is to create a floating school where children can continue their education and find shelter during flash floods. Considering the government’s budget constraints, the design uses local materials, traditional techniques, and recycled plastic to reduce costs and river pollution. This addresses the ecosystem harm caused by waste like plastic bottles, tires, and fishing nets in the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest. The base of the project is a floating platform made of hexagonal blocks inspired by the famous honeycombs of the Sundarbans. The conical shape of the architecture is inspired by traditional polo fishing, a common practice among the locals, most of whom are fishermen. This shape reduces resistance to airflow, ensuring safety during storms. The design respects nature, keeping the Sundarbans’ existing Goran trees at the centre of the structure to provide horizontal stability. The main structure uses bamboo and wood, which are traditional building materials. For the roof, Nipa palm leaves are used, which are commonly found in the Sundarbans. In the future, rising sea levels will make farming more challenging. That is why the design includes a space for floating farming, allowing children to learn about this concept. At the center the courtyard gives children a sense of safety and becomes the heart of the community. It will host cultural programs to strengthen community engagement. During flash floods, families can quickly move from their homes to the school for shelter. This will save the lives of thousands of children and their families. Each classroom includes a mezzanine floor for children to protect themselves from animals like snakes at night and to store dry food. The project, ‘Achol Kinderspace,’ envisions creating a sanctuary of hope for children and their community. In Bangla, ‘Achol’ means ‘Mother’s Lap,’ symbolizing the safest place for a child.This floating school can be the solution to protect and nurture children, just like a mother’s lap.