This year the internship of EJTS took place in Sevaré. It started on February 5th incorporating 10 students in total, of which 3 girls and 7 boys. Two facilities of 3000 * 3000 mm that they are going to build will be covered with a dome. What this project explores is application of precise measurements, preparation of land, plotting measurements and construction of foundation using tested steel. The biggest challenge is undoubtedly the phase in which the facility is covered with a dome.
A couple of images of the project elaborate that the interns are using.
After having created the foundations, the students made the walls with two simple openings – a door and a window. Furthermore, like the drawings show, the triangulare base of the dome was constructed on top of the walls. The corners were then connected thus transforming the square base of the building into a round one.
Continuing from the round base, the construction that follows is much easier. The blocs used in this phase are thinner than the previous ones (usually they are used as floor tiles). Each level of blocs is layed approximately 7 cm closer to the center of the dome than the previous one, finally forming an oculus with a diameter of 30 cm. Lastly, all the brics are covered with red earth.
Teamwork and a proper division of tasks are essential for interns. Each can make their own wall, but the buinding as a whole only comes through cooperation.
During the second stage of the internship the students will face another equally interesting task. They are going to build a hangar for the brick machine. The roof will have the form of arches and underneath it will be possible to store already made bricks. Hopefully this will solve the problem of the increasing demand for bricks both by the Foundation and the new partners like Toguna Industries..
The internship will probably come to end on a short trip to Djenné where Boubacar Kouranse will show the students the traditional construction methods. If all goes well, the interns will acquire a lot of new skills and knowledge that they will be able to use in numerous projects in the future, starting already this year.
The compilation of the first two weeks of construction:
Week 1
Week 2
