circular openings breathe views of nature and light into rural school extension in india

‘school under a neem’ centers around nature

Dhulia Architecture Design looks to the age old Indian tradition of gaining knowledge under a tree at the center of a village for its extension of a primary school in India. ‘School Under a Neem’ centers the Dr Dhaval Rajnikant Mehta Primary School campus around a core neem tree which unites the scattered structures and activities of the complex in one symbolic space.

Around it, the extension block unfolds with a simple floor plan accommodating flexibility for future growth. With earthy tones, the front facade is punctuated with a sequence of rounded openings enabling a playful interaction between light, space, nature, and the users of the building for an enhanced learning experience.

a series of openings foster a dialogue within the building and the outside | all images by Umang Shah Photography 

reviving the rural tradition of learning under a tree

The primary school campus comprises a main building sitting at its end and a few unplanned structures lining the eastern side. The foreground acts as a stage for many activities, including midday meals, sports, and co-curricular activities, while the core neem tree serves as the fulcrum holding together all these zones.

Dealing with space and budget limitations, the team at Dhulia Architecture Design executed minimalist ideas and methods to create playful, flexible spaces for ‘School Under a Neem’. In its floor plan the extension block remains simple, with three classrooms on the top and three below. Meanwhile the ground floor has been temporarily left open to double as a prayer hall, to which partitions can be added to give three more classrooms in the future.

stepped entrance to the school extension building under the neem tree

earthen tones foster interactivity between structure & nature 

Dhulia Architecture Design envelopes the building with an earthy tone from within and outside, emphasizing the pristine white walls lining the facade. The greys frame these white walls while the primary colours on the jamb highlight the campus like a photo frame on a wall. Adding a splash of color, a small circular opening at the end of the corridor on the top floor encircles the neem tree with a yellow line, reinforcing the initial concept.

Inside, the doors and windows form playful details to foster interactivity between the children and the school. Small blackboards on the doors act as a canvas for students to mark their identity and number their classes, while the windows are fitted with rotating yellow rectangles for play. 

light hits the facade to create a play of shadows in the corridor

numerous openings on the facade

light in corridor creating dynamic shadow patterns

the rim of the jambs has contrasting paint to form a frame of the openings

prayer space

circular opening framing the neem tree

blackboard in the door used for naming the classes

classroom

a harmonious relationship between nature and structure trees

the school children enjoying their midday meal from the school

project info:

name: School Under a Neem

location: India

architecture: Dhulia Architecture Design

lead architect: Komal Dhulia

design team: Ravi Badrakiya, Savan Kanani 

structural design: Manish Doshi Office 

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: ravail khan | designboom