Poor infrastructure, connectivity, and the digital gap in our rural schools have always left the young minds from rural hamlets worried about their future. We at Sukarma Foundation are re-building a well-equipped school in Mehragaon, Narsinghpur (MP, India).

“School design starts and ends with the child. Every factor must be related one way or the other to the children. The school is one which serves the emotional as well as the physical needs of the children.” –William Caudill

This school is a government primary school located in Village Mehragaon, district Narsinghpur, Madhya Pradesh. The Sukarma Foundation founder Maya Vishwakarma went to this school from grade 1 to 8, 1988 to 1996.

The area of this school is 12,000 square feet. The old building has been demolished, hence, only a few rooms are left for the kids. Other school buildings are in the other corners of the village where only a handful of kids studying in 9th and 10th grade.

The idea is to have classrooms from 1st grade to 12th grade in one building in the school as this location is at the center of the village. Moreover, Choupal, Gram Panchayat Bhawan, temple, and weekly farmer’s market are also close by. Kids will feel connected and will be under the supervision of villagers. We have a vision of 100 years in terms of school infrastructure and sustainability where kids can learn real hand experience of all the handful work which require to survive in life.

Objectives of the project:

To make the school a part of a lifestyle.
To maintain and extend academic excellence.
To foster in pupils a sense of personal worth, and to promote their welfare, to help each achieve his or her potential.
To offer, and encourage pupil participation in, an extensive range of co-curricular activities.
To prepare pupils to become responsible members of society and prepare them for the world of work.
To develop and sustain close links between the school and the community.

Site of the Project: Location: Mehragaon, MP.

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Existing site condition:

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Site: Climate Analysis:

Average Day time temp: 32°C
Average NIght time temp: 15°C
Max rainfall during July-Aug: [300-400mm]

Design Concept: Holistic Learning Experience:

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Design Programme:

Lobby/Display Area, Administration, Principal Room, Staff Rooms.
Toilet Block
Play Area-Indoor
Mess
Workshop Area
Kitchen
Janitor Room
Storeroom
Clinic
Classrooms (Anganwadi to 12th standard)
Laboratory
Library
Computer Lab
Center for climate change
Workshop and activity space

Design Proposal:

Site Zoning and Site Designing:

Site Design:

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Design Development:

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PLAN:

Lower Ground Floor: (2829 SQFT):

Ground Floor (5239.22 SQFT:

First Floor (5298.5 SQFT):

Second Floor (6420 SQFT):

Third Floor (7300 SQFT):

Tarrace (7579 SQFT):

● Louvers at the south facade at the entry way to cut in direct sunlight at the entryway.

● Pivot windows to welcome airflow at summers and block the cold winds in winters

● Groundfloor with semi-open area for parking and an OAT.

Brick jaali cuts in the east light glare and diffuses light that forms patterns passing through the jaalis.
Double height space over the OAT allows split-level interaction between levels.
OAT servers as the entry staircase and the gathering space for workshops or gatherings of the same.
Entering from a lower level through the OAT into the Double height space makes a volumetric statement to the space.
All classrooms open up to the central space.
Corridor space that overlooks into the OAT void.
The filtered light coming from staggered green spaces is arranged as Lightwell and helps the stack effect.
Corridor space creates a clear vision of all the other spaces overlooking the oat.
Clean access to classrooms through wide corridors.
Brick Jali in the east side gets in filtered East sunlight.

School As Teacher:

Informative wall murals make learning more fun and the process more playful.
The school has a practice of rainwater harvesting and solar power, which teaches the students the value of sustainability.
Agriculture learning and skill development workshops to add more practical values to students than formal education format.

School As Social Tool:

School As Self Sustainable Model:

Vertical Gardening methods practiced on the terrace level with solar panels add value to sustainability.

School As Playground:

Open space for game activities to be held on the terrace level as part of sports with proper mesh and grill for the children’s safety.
The pivot window added at the Southside allows us to create light patterns passing through the colored glasses.
The windows allow us to control the amount of air ventilation during summers and winters.
Apart from corridor space accessing the classrooms, this also acts as the spillover space of the classroom for activities or display.

Multi-Purpose space is being planned at the north side of the site creating a Double Height void and providing a hygiene space for dining.
This double-height space also opens scope to conduct various workshops or activities in this space.
The void brings in a good amount of North Light and helps cross ventilation.
It also acts as a spillover space for Nursery Classroom.
Pipes coming down the air vent shaft with staggered landscape pockets are used for Rainwater harvesting.
Pivot windows added at the south end of the corridor help in controlling the airflow and also cut down direct sunlight.
Circular Openings breaks the monotony of lines and creates a double-height space making a volumetric impact.
The louvers cut in direct sunlight, and the pivot openings allow us to control the air ventilation into the building.
Pipes that run down are seen carrying rainwater from the roof area as a rainwater harvesting plant.
Pockets of landscape seen arranged alternately for the play of light and ventilation. The ventilation Shaft helps to bring in stack effect to cut down the heat from the building.
A filler slab is seen as a sustainable method of casting the slab.
The clinic has been added under the OAT space for easy access from the Ground floor.
Parking space is seen left open at the ground level wherein the scope of indoor games also is possible.

Passive Climate Design Strategies:

RAT TRAP BOND WALL CONSTRUCTION: For Wall Construction Provided insulation gap and used 25% fewer Bricks As Compared To The Conventional Method.
FILLER SLAB: The air gap in between the tiles makes it a good heat insulator, and the ceiling looks attractive as well.
CENTRAL AIR VENT SHAFT -STACK EFFECT:

Cross-section showing the wind movements and the sun impacts.
The South, west, and east facade are provided with louvers to modulate glare and wind, whereas the north side has large openings.
LOUVERS
PLANTERS
BRICK JALI WALL

Elevation Option:

Estimation:

Actual site area: 1042.19 SQ.MT./1246.46 SQ. YD./11218.174 SQ.FT.
Proposed common plot: 5479.631 SQ.FT.
Total Lower ground floor built-up area: 4547.658 SQ.FT.
Total Ground floor built-up area: 8177.118 SQ.FT.
Total First-floor built-up area: 7485.306 SQ.FT.
Total second-floor built-up area: 8071.630 SQ.FT.
Total third-floor built-up area: 8926.784 SQ.FT.
Total block built-up area: 37208.496 SQ.FT.
Total block built-up estimate:
37208.496 SQ.FT. X Rs.1850/- (As per market rate)= 68,835,717.6 R.S.
Site Development: Rs.500,000/-(Approx.)
Total project development cost: Rs.69,335,717.6/-

This cost does not include architectural, structural or any M.E.P. consultant fee, this may vary according to their respective charges. This is just a basic estimation according to the rate given by a local vendor.

It is impossible for us to build this project without your support. Your small help will help us realise this project. Please contribute and share this campaign with your peers.