Makoko Floating School - exterior

The architects built a floating school prototype to address the shortage of schools and lack of daily infrastructure in the second most populous city in Africa that can support such facilities, where there are no roads, land or formal infrastructure.

This floating structure uses renewable energy to recycle organic waste and to harvest rainwater while floating along the surface of the water regardless of the tidal change or water level. The main materials used are locally sourced wood and bamboo that floats on top of 250 plastic barrels.

The structure was meant to be invulnerable to flooding and storm surges however during a heavy seasonal thunderstorm on June 7, 2016, the school collapsed without any casualty.