Chengelpet Elementary School

Narratives

Architect Narrative

This is a design for a rural elementary school in Chengelpet, Tamil Nadu, India. The children attending this school belong to families engaged in agriculture and low-technology industry. They often work for wages during non-school hours. The time spent in school would be the only time to cherish in the hard childhood of these children.

THE CLASSROOM:
The classroom module is trapezoidal in plan. The geometry achieves a natural focus towards the teacher. The tapering overhead plane (the roof) and the vertical wall planes on the sides ensure acoustic and visual convergence. The openings are restricted to the rear of the classroom to minimize distraction for the students who sit on the floor. Blackboards are place below sill level for the students to express themselves. Niches on the periphery are provided to store footwear and bags. Children remove their footwear to squat easily on the floor.
The dummy wall in front of the openings allows natural light from behind while naturally eliminating the glare. The converging walls create a draft drawing fresh air from the outer walls’ openings forcing ventilation. The summer temperatures easily reach 40 degree Celsius.
The base module also lends to expansion of a single classroom for 25 children into a double unit for 50.

THE CLUSTER:
The traditional Indian schooling system, “the Gurukulam”, evolved with knowledge imparted by the teacher sitting amidst his students beneath a tree. The classroom module is radially grouped into blocks, symbolic of a flower in bloom - as a school is where an individual’s personality is nurtured to blossom into a responsible citizen-. These blocks are further clustered around a central court enclosing an area for interaction and recreation. A tree in the middle acts as an interface for such interaction. Seating provided around this tree is convenient for outdoor activities, even for class sessions. Intimidating corridors aligning a row of rigid classrooms, have thus been avoided.

SPACES FOR CO- CURRICULAR & EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES:
Science laboratories, a library and a games room are provided for. Semi-open pavilions accessed by exclusive landscaped courts have been built into the form of the cluster for extra curricular activities. The pavilions are flanked by enclosed open spaces to act as a spill out area for these activities. These spaces are also intended for art, drama, music and cultural programs. Keeping in mind the value of vocational training in such communities, pavilions for workshops with corresponding spill out areas, have been accommodated.
The administration and staff rooms are strategically clustered with the library. A stage and flag post is set up adjunct to this block for conducting school assembly as well as stage performances for larger audiences.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BUILT FORM:
The school is worked out for low cost construction. The built form is single storied and of exposed brick. The openings have brick arch lintels, avoiding concrete. Brick trellis wall used in place of windows to allow for lighting and ventilation. A dummy wall with arched openings beyond the trellis wall insulates the rooms from heat and glare.
The roofing is “corbelled,” and made of sun-dried brick tiles. The pyramidical form of the roof is altered on one plane to form a triangular opening that allows for escape of hot air apart from admitting light. The valleys formed by the roofs of adjoining classrooms divert rainwater through a drainpipe into the ground, helping to replenish ground water.
The construction, the clusters and the open planning give the school a rustic appeal to complement its rural atmosphere, providing an ambience that stimulates learning.