Fact File
Client: Shree Cement Ltd.
Site area: 190,000 sq.ft.
Built area: 93,000 sq.ft.
Location: Ras, Rajasthan
Principal architect: Sanjay Puri
Project architects: Ishveen Bhasin, Ankush Malde, Pooja Prajapati
Photos: Dinesh Mehta
Source: v2com
Taking cognizance of the desert climate of its location with temperatures exceeding 35°C for most of the year, each of the classrooms is north oriented to derive indirect sunlight. The auditorium, primary school, and administration areas occupy the southern side of the plot, opening into a large sheltered open area towards the north, beyond which the secondary school classrooms, library and cafeteria are located.
The semi-sheltered courtyard has multiple angular pathways, connecting the two parts of the school with landscaped play spaces that foster engagement. Traversed by a series of linear trapezoidal frames and sun-breakers, this focal area has a constantly changing shadow pattern, depending on the sun’s direction throughout the day. The layout is intentionally fragmented, allowing open landscaped spaces to be interspersed with the school’s learning spaces.
The organic layout creates a different character to each part of the school orienting each space with different views and different perceptions. The informal layout, interspersed open and enclosed volumes, are designed in response to the hot climate, creating a school that is exploratory in multiple ways
Sanjay Puri, Principal Architect
The entire school opens towards a multipurpose playground and athletics track on the northern side. The entire circulation is through naturally ventilated corridors traversing and skirting the focal semi-sheltered landscaped court in the center. Angled vertical walls act as sun breakers to reduce heat gain from the east, west and south sides, generating cooler internal spaces.
The complete electrical power requirement is generated by the residual energy of a cement plant nearby. In addition, the entire water is recycled and reused. The building by its design is thus extremely energy efficient.
