Architecture practice Parallel Studio has punctured the white walls of this children's library in Zanzibar with small holes, providing natural ventilation and casting shadows across books inside.
Named Mariam's Library, the building occupies an empty plot in the village of Mwanyanya and is designed as an "inviting and inclusive environment conducive to learning, creativity, and community involvement", Parallel Studio said.
It was developed in collaboration with the local Beit Ras School after the studio's founder Mai Al Busairi visited the area and saw the community's need for more books and reading facilities. It is topped by a corrugated-plastic roof
Clay bricks were also chosen for their high thermal mass, which helps keep the building cool during the hot summer months. They are lined and painted white both externally and internally.
The addition of holes in these walls supports the low running costs of the library, with the perforations helping to naturally ventilate the space and reducing the need for mechanical ventilation.
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