By Ar. Yatin Pandya
Photographs Courtesy: FOOTPRINTS E.A.R.T.H.
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India First Foundation (IFF) School Campus |
To educate, is to
develop mentally, morally and aesthetically. Holistic learning therefore is
about information, exposure, analysis, understanding and exploration. With the
onus more on learning than teaching, how can the built environment contribute to
the same?
By overlaying spatial
installations to the basic physical envelop, the India First Foundation (IFF) school
campus in Karjat, Maharashtra, makes an attempt at interactive education by inculcating
the habit of enquiry, and raising the level of exposure. Working on the design
and architectural layout of this school, I realized that as a responsible
architect, I could accomplish its core objective via interactive installations
and a series of animated spaces that would involve the students’ constant
participation.
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The dining hall is animated with installations of spice route with live
samples of fifty one spices from around the world as well as representation of
navigation vessels of the time.
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Patina wall installations and LED light hangings depict over twenty
cuisines of India with information about their ingredients, calorie count and
nutritional value.
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Morphing the institutional campus into an interactive
and inspiring learning environment, we carefully
designated various interactive tools like multimedia 3D displays, colour symbolism,
vernacular art, tribal an traditional motifs, digital crafts, installations,
wall panels and the like to extend beyond the staid textbook format. With their
dynamic formats for higher interactivity, and in order to sustain interest,
ease in comprehension not only promotes first-hand understanding of subject
matter, but goes beyond to inculcate lateral thinking.
To cite a few
examples: The open-to-air amphitheatre is transformed into an open book on
space sciences by turning spatial elements like floor, amphitheatre steps,
walls, lighting elements and landscaping into thematic spatial installations.
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The centre of the circular amphitheatre is
punctuated with a Sundial. The floor landscape is defined by twelve radiating
stone pedestals alternated by the soft grass cover.
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Another example is of
experiencing the three seasons where three amphitheatre steps with natural
stone rendering each in colours of Red, Green, Black depict summer, monsoon and
winter respectively. Augmenting this is the landscape especially catering to
the study of the seasons.
In yet another, lighting
elements are designed in steel and glass with the scientific, at-a-glance,
information on the solar system etched and digitally printed. As various
mediums intermingle as carriers of the message, digital craft is juxtaposed
with vernacular art. Symbolism has its fair share too - water body in front of
the stage portrays the world atlas with five fountains representing the five continents.
Obelisks on the sides of the stage designed as tall pyramid-shaped light
features are modern day abstractions of the ‘Dipstambh’ of temple complexes in
Maharashtra region.
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Each stone pedestal has hand carved, laser burnt and inlaid stone and steel elements representing the twelve ‘Rashis’ (zodiac signs) with accurate depiction of constellation of stars as per the zodiac calendar. |
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200ft long opaque parapet wall with terracotta
backdrop and white rendering, in local Warli painting tradition depicts the
evolution of the world from ‘Hiranyagarbh’ to Aryan village to epics like
Ramayan and Mahabharat, invasions, colonization as well as contemporary world
icons.
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Likewise, other open,
semi-covered and enclosed spaces of the campus have also been animated with
educational installations. School corridors have live installations of games
and puzzles along path ways, converting otherwise mundane areas into
informative, entertaining and interactive zones.
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Natural light streaming into the corridor |
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Game Corner in Corridor Photograph by: Leo Stride |
Special features are
also included to cater to widespread knowledge and sustained interest. An
exhibition hall called ‘Global Village’ has well researched 192 panels, one
each on the countries of the world carrying at-a-glance information about each
country’s national flag, demography, currency, people, flora, fauna, architecture
etc. These panels are hung like drooping foliage on a free standing metal stand
like abstract installation. The ceiling is matt black with linear slits of LED
lighting illuminating the whole space from the ceiling. These lighting slits
are the datelines (hour lines) of the world atlas corresponding to GMT. Thus
they not only become lighting and visual features but also informative in
nature. Glossy flooring reflects this lighting and enhances its spread. The
sixty feet long wall creates the backdrop of faces and attire of people from around
the world, depicting the diversity of culture and places. 3D self-lit cubical
protrusions from this plane depict photos and information on hundred
personalities of the world from diverse fields that have left their mark on
humanity. These may serve as role models to the young students and inspire.
Touch screen kiosks and remote switches make their operations interactive as
well.
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Global Village - Exhibition Hall |
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Class Signage |
Similarly, every
classroom and laboratory is provided with wall installations based on the
specific curriculum and course contents of the given standard. These installations in the form of sixteen
feet long panels each consisting of models, charts, puzzles, kinetic
sculptures, digital displays and DIY experiments – offer value addition to a
neutral space transcending it into inspiring learning and teaching tool in
addition to its visual interest elements. Such panels serve as stimuli to
trigger initiatives from students and teachers alike and help inculcate the spirit
of learning amongst the pupils through self indulgence and exploration. A much
needed dimension in true value-based education.
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Classroom Panel for Std-1 |
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Classroom Panel for Std-5 |
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Classroom Panel for Std-8 |
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Classroom Panel for Std-10 |
Yatin
Pandya is an author, activist, academician, researcher as well as a successful
practicing architect from India with his firm FOOTPRINTS E.A.R.T.H. - for Environment, Architecture,
Research, Technology and Housing.
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