Project Category
Rural Schools

Project Type
Public, Government, Non-Government, CSR

Number of People
1000

Project Location
Rural

Issues
Education, Awareness, Modernity, Details, Adaptability, Contextual, Resource Saving, Sustainability, Vernacular

“Swapnil Shala” Project –Ghatal is a school up-gradation project based on the processes of community empowering and developing a sense of ownership and values of education in Government Primary School.
This project was a part of a CSR activity of Ashiana Housing Ltd. Their active and encouraging attitude is a key to the success of the project.

The school landscape was designed to manifest it’s exiting ground condition with existing classroom blocks . The existing natural depression in school ground which was filled with industrial waste was cleared to manifest ideas of water conservation. Every large rain cycle will fill the water body to the tune of approximately 11,00,000 L. of water. This in turn would slowly percolate in ground. Over the years this has helped raise the water table in the eighbourhood.

This project is not about main stream built architecture project, but it is about meaningful small landscape interventions to make school a dream school were children and neighbourhood start to respect the school environment

The pedagogy of the project is participatory in its nature where village children studying in the school, teachers and villagers become active vocals. Scientific methods were employed to generate active participation by CEE as part of their software programs. BPSA, Rajkot as team with CEE interpreted the pedagogy into the physical manifestation.

The stepped plinths at the edge would help create a space for school functions. Strategic location of seats and plinths created meaningful pockets which are designed as learning corners.

One of the landscape walled space is designed to cater to hand and utensil wash area for MDMS for school children.

Plantation was decided based upon promoting indigenous trees and shrub species of the local region.

For the success of this project, of paramount importance were participation of school children and the villagers in decision making. In order to do this, some ground rules were established and adhered to during the entire duration of the project.

And finally, the most important aspect of the project is meta-physical…and can best be described as…

To instil a sense of belief in one’s situational and existential conditions!
and
To make amends while remaining aware of ones’ rootedness to these conditions.

DRAWINGS

Project Details:
Client: Principal, Primary School, Thada.
Sponsored & Supported by: Mr. Vishal Gupta, MD, Ashiana Housing Ltd
Address: Government Primary School,
Village Ghatal, Tehsil Tizara, Dist Alwar, 301411Rajasthan
Structural Engineer: Mr Ojha, SCON Pvt Ltd, Patna.
Contractor: Ashiana Housing Ltd.
Design Team: Parth Shah, Brinda Parth Shah, Diksha Joshi

AWARDS / PUBLICATION