The Aga Khan Academy, located in Matola City, is the third in a network of Aga Khan Academies established by His Highness Aga Khan. The project follows the same effective model established by the first two academies – Mombassa, Kenya opened in 2003 and Hyderabad, India opened in 2011 – with the purpose of functioning as a teaching institution that targets 1st year to 12th year students of excellent academic standard from different social and economic backgrounds. The Academy is located on a plot wit h215 703.95 m2 and is composed of several buildings all designed to create a world-class educational institution that offers the PYP, MYP and IB curriculum. The first phase of the academy was the construction of the Nursery and at the end of 2017 the Junior school was built comprising of 2 classroom buildings and a Library.
This building is characterized by its unusual trapezoidal shape and it function is to give junior school students the opportunity of engaging in different learning environments. There are two main wings dedicated to different activities and that are separated by the entrance atrium. From the atrium students and visitors can easily see and access the different areas, which are identified by distinct flooring materials and wall colours. The circulation areas are well demarked so as not to disturb studying or reading in the active spaces. The double-storey area allows direct access to the playground of the Junior School and is where the books and group study areas are located. The more quite area at the back is dedicated to individual activities and quiet reading. Warm colours were used for the building inside and out taking inspiration from the very characteristic and local red earth of Mozambique. The colour scheme is bright but comfortable.
This building is arranged in “U” format so that the activities dedicated to the Junior school can be contained in the same space giving the student a sense of protection and of own space. A playground separates the two blocks from the classrooms where one has 2 floors (ground floor + 1) and the other only ground floor. The classrooms have access through the galleries connected to the patio and these, in turn, connect to an outside covered area for informal academic activities. Two staircases that allow access to the 1st floor serve the 2-story block. The classrooms all have a regular rectangular shape making them extremely flexible. Each year has a different floor colour giving the possibility of each classroom having its own individual character. The proposed material for floors and ceilings has an indispensable acoustic component and the walls, in addition to white paint, are mostly lined with information cork panels that also add the level of sound insulation.