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this module focused around training the participants in articulating architecture in a manner that resource consumption is rationalized and the experience of built form resonates with the environmental dimensions. Here the ideas around siting, climatic control, use of appropriate structural and constructional techniques, design of relevant water, air and energy systems, etc. shall be explored architecturally such that they go beyond their mechanical imperatives and shape the experience of space.
exercise : redesigning of a pre-primary school in the peri-urban area that will be off the grid taking care of its water, electricity and waste within itself and making it a system by which it will run on its own(partly or fully) with minimal or no additional resource consumption.
site images
the site is located in abhinav nagar borivali east which resides on the borders of sanjay gandhi national park. the school consist of pre primary and primary section in one building and secondary section in another. due to the close proximity to the park, most of the student belongs to the community which resides in the park. due to close proximity to the forest, animals like deer are frequently seen on the site. understanding this context, my approach towards the design was oriented towards conservation of water.
abhinav vidya mandir
english medium
approximately 157 students with 7 faculties and a principal. (including all standards)
timings are in morning with one break of 20 mins
marathi medium
total number of students is 157 students including all standards with 7 faculties and a principal.
timings are from 12.20 pm - 5.50pm, 2.40 pm lunch break ( lunch provided by the school) around 20 mins break.
most of the students are from SNGP (95%) rest are from Kajupada. Their parents are often vegetable vendors or laborers. School starts with daily assembly in the multipurpose hall with prayers and the national anthem. For afternoon school, the assembly are held from 12.20 - 12.45pm. Initially they had baithak system but they now use benches
site interiors
site drawings
system : rain water harvesting
when I first arrived at the school, its unconventional design immediately caught my attention. Unlike the rigid, predictable designs often associated with educational spaces, this felt more like navigating a labyrinth. There were no direct paths, only unexpected turns, layered spaces.
as I began working with the system, I considered harvesting rainwater, taking into account the climatic conditions of the site, while also preserving the labyrinthine experience. My initial ideas revolved around using semicircular roofs, each connected to the next, allowing rainwater to be channeled along the curves and collected in a tank or pond.
each classroom was imagined as a separate module, interconnected by ramps. This approach maintained the idea of a labyrinth inspired by the existing site. I strategically placed the modules to maximize rainwater collection, considering the wind direction.
I iterated on my plans, adjusting the positions of the modules, changing the curvature of the roofs through sections, and understanding the spatial relationships through physical models.
the roof evolved beyond its primary function: due to the natural contours of the site, the elongated roof merges seamlessly with the higher elevations, making it accessible from above while providing shaded areas below. Eventually, I began designing fenestrations that responded directly to the local climate.
conceptual sketches
process models and drawings
design drawings
design model
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