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Site and Project Context
The site is in Utre, a village in Kolhapur. The task was to redesign an existing school. The entire village sits on a mountain thus adding a layer of contour to the project. It recieves wind from south-west direction. The primary school functions are located in the right block, while the secondary sections occupy the left block. The pre-primary zone is positioned near the entrance for ease of access and safety. A temple (mandir) is situated at the entrance on the left, acting as both a cultural marker and a spatial threshold.
Patterns Observed
The design process started with observing patterns across the village of Utre, Kolhapur. These 2D patterns were then converted into 3D models and used as repetative elements in the design
Pattern 1 | Terrain through the houses
All of the houses had a flow of steps. The newer (RCC) houses had a lesser flow while the old (stone & brick) houses had a much steeper flow
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Pattern 2 | Division and Multiplication of Houses
The houses in the village were either divided or the area was added to when a marrige took place in the household
Pattern 3 | Slits and Niches
If one stands at the entry of the house, they could see all across the house till the other end introducing a sense of transparency. It acted as a Slit through the house. The walls had niches carved into them for storage
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Design Process
The organisation of blocks produced a courtyard like spaces. These spaces gave me an idea of open classrooms. Classrooms held in courtyards and classrooms opening into the courtyards
This system introduced a sense of Modules. I started making a typical module for one function. For instance, a classroom has a particular layout which may have its variants
Playing with heights sectionally to give different purposes to different spaces. A library has a greater height as compared to a corridor. Reason being the difference of the usability of the space and the time period one spends in there
Zoning of programs done in a certain logic. The public nodes i.e. the Library, Dance Room, Temple was placed on one side of the plot and the School programs on the other side so as to not let them interfere with each other. A central Canteen which is accessible to every part of the site and open ground for play. Classroms and Courtyards go hand in hand to form intimate gathering spaces
Making various elemental diagrams to be used in designing inside and outside spaces
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Trying out roofs and how they form shadows not just inside a classroom but also in the courtyard spaces
Forming Clusters of blocks and creating slits in the walls. These walls are cut in a way to provide shade and to allow wind to pass through and allow ventilation, The width of the slits depended on what passes through it. It varied according to kids, adults or just wind.
Testing Different Roofs
Trying out Bamboo Roofing and Khus curtains hanging as a temporary wall which allows the spaces to open into the courtyards
Final Dawings
Plan
One Cluster with a Central Courtyard
Sectional View
Isometric View of a Classroom
Isometric View of a Library Space
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Model
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