Thinking Huts, a US non-profit firm set up to build printed schools, is planning its first project for Madagascar.
The project, which would be the world’s first printed education facility, was designed by California architect Studio Mortazavi and will be printed by Finnish tech company Hyperion Robotics using its honeycomb method.
Maggie Grout, a 21-year-old undergraduate at Colorado University, founded Thinking Huts to provide cheap school buildings around the world. She is aiming to raise $350,000 from donors to fund the scheme.
Grout, who has been working on the project for six years, said in an interview with a Colorado Inno news site: "As a young founder, it is hard at times to be taken seriously. I spent a lot of time doing research and partnership development."
The school, will combine printed walls and a conventionally built roof, will be housed on the campus of the University of Fianarantsoa in southern Madagascar. When complete it will accommodate between 30 and 40 students.
Grout chose Madagascar out of seven candidate countries on account of its need for education infrastructure, its emerging economy, opportunity for growth, as well as renewable energy potential.
Image: Studio Mortazavi’s rendering of its school design
Further reading
