TAPOLOGO CENTRE
Tapologo Centre at Phokeng

On the outskirts of a village of the Bafokeng people is situated the Tapologo Centre. This beautiful centre is home to the programme's administration, the In-Patient-Unit (IPU), Health Management Information Service (HMIS), the organic vegetable garden and the programme's management. The setting and architecture are such that they reflect the Setswana meaning of "Tapologo" which is "a place of peace and rest".

The buildings and architecture.
The philosophy guiding the architecture and building technology employed is that of being in harmony with the natural surrounds, minimising the environmental impact and a demonstration of what can be achieved using local resources and materials.

The walls and vault roofs have been constructed using sun dried mud bricks, all of which have been manufactured on site. They also have beneficial thermo insular properties assisting with temperature control inside the buildings.

The "air conditioning" and ventilation system makes use of the principle of hot air rises. This principle was put to use as long ago as a thousand years in other hot parts of the world with the development of sub terrainean cooling. Air is drawn in by intake towers situated a short distance from the buildings, then channelled through pipes set in the cool soil well below the surface, venting into the interior of the buildings at floor level. Hot air in the buildings rises up and exits through vents strategically placed in the apex of the vaulted roofs drawing more cooler air in as it does so. The added advantage is that clean air enters from below and air potentially containing germs and viruses rises up and out of the building. In the IPU this forms part of the infection control strategy.

The interior of the buildings are illuminated during the day by natural light that streams in through side windows and skylights positioned all along the top of the vaults.

The vegetable garden
Adding to the tranquillity of the Tapologo Centre is the organic vegetable garden and measuring about half a hectare in size. A variety of basic vegetables are cultivated here such as carrots, beetroot, cabbage, lettuce, beans and spinach. These vegetables supplement the diet of the patients at the IPU and surplus vegetables and seedlings are distributed through the outreach centres. A small flock of Naledi hens also provide eggs and are fed on the scraps from the kitchens and uneaten food.