The proposed design for expanding the Edmonton Islamic Academy involved adding new classrooms around an interior courtyard. The architect was advised to shift the classrooms to create a courtyard allowing for natural light and ventilation. A community garden was proposed for the courtyard that would provide economic, environmental, and social benefits. Challenges included limited budget and accommodating a greenhouse. The final design featured a small permanent greenhouse connected to the biology lab, with the main courtyard area divided into a gridded garden plot assigned to classes. Each plot would have a wooden pergola structure that could be covered with removable plastic or nylon sheeting to serve as a temporary greenhouse across seasons while reflecting Islamic architectural styles.

1. The School design development - Suzan Nihad .M.Arch.
The Project’s History:
Edmonton Islamic Academy
needed more classrooms
to expand the school capacity.
The first proposal submitted;
added the new classrooms
beside the existing classrooms.
I advised the architect to
shift the new classrooms
to create a courtyard,
allowing natural lighting
and ventilation inside
the classrooms.
The design team,
schoolboard and
administration accept
my proposal, and
recommended to the
design team to
implement in the
school expansion design.

2. Community Garden Vs Landscaping!
As shown in my first proposal sketches, that a green house is recommended. The school board and administration asked the
design team to submit landscaping design proposal to the courtyard.
With the school board limited budget, for landscaping and storm water system. It was challenging to accomplish the
requirements and apply a sophisticated landscape in a school zone with narrow budget.
I recommended an idea that will allow utilizing this area as a function rather than mere form. A community garden
will provide a sustainable solution for many problems:
Economical sustainability:
-In applying a storm water drainage system to the courtyard, by providing major green areas for gardening,
with small areas of paving and walkways.
-By developing the courtyard to produce a fruitful garden and grow food instead of lawns.
-Minimizing the needs and expenses for landscaping design.
-Opening the doors for financial resources from the City for such projects (Community Sustainability Grants,
Sustainable Food programs and little-green-thumbs)
http://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/city_vision_and_strategic_plan/ecocity-edmonton-
community-sustainability-grants.aspx
http://www.sustainablefoodedmonton.org/little-green-thumbs
http://www.edmonton.ca/programs_services/funding_grants/grants-funding-topic.aspx#Environment
Environmental sustainability:
In enhancing the climate and ecosystem, by providing green and sustainable neighborhood, and applying
composting methods. Also by designing and adding greenhouse, for all season’s outcomes
Social sustainability:
By engaging the students with nature, applying the Islamic values of caring for the environment and preserving
mother earth. Also as a great opportunity for fun and scientific activities.
The Requirements
The administration decided to add new requirement “to have an extension to the biology lab (a doorway) into a
greenhouse where biology lessons can be integrated into the planting and harvesting of certain herbs and
vegetables. These can then be used in the cafeteria for student lunches”.
Considering the budget, having this whole area covered, and the construction of the greenhouse was costly
especially on a permanent basis if all glass.
The landscape design was expected to by fancy and tolerant to the school theme.

3. The Challenges:
The design was facing many challenges:
- Limited budget for master green house and fancy landscaping.
- Adding a green house in the middle of an existing area and fixed windows.
- Considering the outer view from inside, and not to allow the greenhouse to block the exterior sight.
- The community garden is not going to be sustainable in a cold snowy environment, unless the whole area to be
covered, which requires more financial aid, and might block natural lighting and ventilation.
- Presenting a functional community garden with decorative and stylish forms, will launch a historical debate between
form and function.
- Conciliating between sophisticated landscaping and fruitful community garden, will be the design contest.
The Concept:
The administration requirements show that, the size of the green house is limited to planting and harvesting, as
part of science lessons’ applications.
Small detached greenhouse: A small permanent glass greenhouse will be added is a specific area;
- The greenhouse is designated to the biology lab external walls
- The greenhouse is added where windows could be covered with green houses, but classrooms windows
cannot.
- The greenhouse entrance is accessible from the exit door to the courtyard.
Gridded design garden: The major area of the backyard will be used as a harvesting garden. The garden will be
divided to a grid, submitting many solutions:
- Each grid line is a walkway to access the small garden zone.
- Each small garden will be assigned to different classes, grades and students.
- The gridded plan is a similar pattern to the Islamic gardens and Andalusian landscape design.
- The grid will indicate the foundation for a wooden structure covering each garden called Pergola.
- A Pergola will be designed as a structure above the garden and cover it in certain seasons.
- Each garden’s framework will be covered with a temporary and removable heavy duty plastic sheets or
nylon cover, fixed from the bottom.
- The Pergola will be indicating arches to reflect the Islamic architecture typology, as they won’t be covered
in some seasons.
- The Pergola will provide an affordable removable sheltering as a greenhouse, offering a sustainable
solution for different seasons.

4. Landscaping design manifest Islamic architecture gardens:
- A centered fountain will be added, reflecting the
- The walkways materials are made from small stones not concrete.
- Those stoned are recycled from the project’s concrete demolitions
to reduce wastes and costs, also will give a decorative indicating to reflect the Islamic decorations.
https://www.pinterest.com/explore/recycled-concrete/

5. The Vision