
Du Noon Primary School is a replacement school, built as part of the Department of Basic Education’s Accelerated School Infrastructure Development Initiative (ASIDI) Programme. The urban fabric of the Du Noon area is very dense, and consists of closely arranged informal buildings of humble proportions. A concept of “Fragmentation” was developed in order to reduce building size and proportions. Five fragmented buildings of various shapes and sizes are arranged around a hierarchy of sheltered courtyards. The large shared courtyard allows for outdoor play and assembly of all children, while the smaller covered courtyards between the classrooms provide protection from the external elements and act as a social gathering space for children of various age groups. The playful use of colour and signage brightens up the interior spaces and forms a great part of the identity of the school.