Ganako Library – Bricksforlife

The “Rosa and Paco Navarro” Library in the Ganako Secondary School in Karatu was built in November 2009 to February 2010. During the summer of 2009 a CSEB (Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks) training course took place by Mr. Satprem Maini of the Aurovlle Earth Institute, and was followed with the manufacturing of the blocks for the construction of the Library.
The library is a superstructure earth quake resistant with four hyperbolic paraboloid shells for the roof. It is an example of reduced CO2 impact, as it is not using country fired bricks that devastate the surrounding forests and it is not using wood and tin roofing. Therefore reducing heat and noise from the rains.

During the construction 70 people were trained: One engineer One supervisor and 35 masons and 33 workers.

This project was followed by locally trained masons doing a classroom in the Mlimani Secondary school and other works.