A school in Makoko Where can you build a school when the land isn’t safe? On the water, of course! Local architect Kunlé Adeyemi has designed a school that floats on water for the Makoko community in Nigeria, West Africa. Makoko is a poor neighbourhood in Nigeria’s largest city, Lagos. It is next to the ocean and its streets are actually canals, so everyone travels by boat. Unfortunately, the water levels are always changing and waves often destroy buildings. Makoko’s old primary school was regularly damaged in bad weather, so students couldn’t go to lessons there safely. Well, not any more! Adeyemi’s creative triangle-shaped design makes the new school safe in extreme weather conditions. This is because the rain doesn’t stay on top of the building and cause damage. Its large base also stops it from falling over in strong winds. The design is also cheap and ecological. Local people built it using wood and other materials from the area. This helped to reduce waste. There are even recycled plastic barrels under the school, which keep it above water. Solar panels on the outside provide electricity to save energy. The building has three levels. Level one is a play area for school breaks, and levels two and three are for lessons. Now, Makoko’s children will be able to take classes safely. Like children everywhere, they will have the chance to get qualifications and have a better future.

A school in Makoko Where can you build a school when the land isn’t safe? On the water, of