Mustardseed Junior School provides a unique secular educational model with an emphasis on outdoor learning for kindergarten and primary school children in Sentema, Uganda. Designed in collaboration with Localworks, the school’s architecture and landscape work in harmony to create a nurturing space that encourages play, interaction with nature and collaboration between classrooms. The open-air buildings, constructed from locally-sourced stone and stabilized earth, integrate with external learning areas that allow for the curriculum to reflect both indoor and outdoor exchange.
The entrance welcomes children with an inviting arc of local stone steps, establishing a symbolic threshold for their daily journey, between “home” and “school.” Winding paths at the back of the campus encourage exploration and provide natural mental breaks, while the landscape design supports the school’s educational ethos. Conservation agriculture, soil regeneration, and indigenous timber are key elements of the design, reflecting the importance of environmental stewardship in the curriculum.
The mission of Mustardseed’s curriculum is to inspire and equip children with the skills to thrive both locally and globally. To support this, the design includes durable hardscapes that allow 300 students to engage actively with their surroundings. Extensive tree planting enhances biodiversity, while two additional plots purchased by the client extend the school’s environmental impact. One plot is dedicated to reforestation, creating an educational space for biodiversity to flourish. The other serves as a sustainable timber plantation, demonstrating the value of indigenous trees for timber, soil health, and water conservation, while also benefiting the local community.
Landscape Architecture: The Landscape Studio
Architecture: Studio FH Architects (UG)
Project location: Sentema, Uganda
Year completed: 2019
Photo credits: Will Boase
