There was no employer in the Arfak project. We teamed up to achieve a significant dream. The old school building was to be added to another old building behind the school to expand the space, improve the quality level, and renovate the buildings after the attachment.

The goal was to create a more valuable space for children at a low cost. Our most important challenges in this project were two things: First, renovating the buildings without disrupting the function of the school. Second, collecting the construction budget with a funding plan in several stages from the donors.

We started by removing additions from these two seemingly insignificant buildings. As we went along, we realized the value of both buildings. Buried corridors and arches were found one by one, changing the whole design once again.

Our design strategy was to preserve the identity of the buildings and representing them in a better way. All the corridors, arches, and patterns were strengthened and used as design elements of form. The usage of colors, materials, plants, space circulations, communicational ways between donors, children, and the crew, were consulted with experts and designed carefully and precisely. In the initial design process, different spaces such as a workshop, thinking tank, counseling room, game room, health room, etc., were prioritized.

A bridge was also defined as a connection between the terrace and the porch, which could be a passageway for children’s adventures and educational/ recreational space. Due to the old buildings, the building structure got straight, and a suitable heating and cooling system were added to the project.

Game elements were added to every corner of the spaces, and children were invited to wander and discover the space to grow their minds and souls for facing the problems ahead and getting prepared for future successes.

Space was defined in the small yard called Mehryad, to attach the two wings (recipient and giver) and gather them both to thank God for his generosity and placing the names of ”the kind“ and the “recipients of love” together without any distinction.

Considering our social responsibility and the subject of the project, a school aimed to educate disadvantaged children (children labor), the decision was made to design and implement the project in a charitable manner.