LEARNING COURTYARDS

Located in the centre of a rapidly growing city, Aurangabad in India, this school is designed for a plot of 3960 sq m with a permissible constructed area of 8118 sq m.
The primary access road is on the west with a secondary access on the southern side and an existing playground towards the east.
Imbibing the traditional courtyard prevalent in Indian architecture the school creates a large open to sky courtyard oriented to open towards the playground .
Brick screens envelope the built spaces externally mitigating sound from the roads as well as reducing heat gain in response to the climate. Average temperatures are in excess of 30°C for 8 months of the year in this location.
Circulation spaces skirt the courtyard with open bridges across allowing students to be visually connected to the landscaped court and the playground whilst moving within the school. All the common facilities including laboratories, library , arts room & cafeteria open into landscaped terraces that punctuate the building to facilitate natural cross ventilation throughout the school.
Designed for a charitable trust , the entire school is naturally lit & ventilated with reduced heat gain to create an energy efficient design that is economical & sustainable.
A Learning Courtyard is a school that imbibes the elements & planning principles of traditional Indian architecture to create a contextual design solution alluding to the location & climate & generating sheltered open spaces for social interaction within a restricted site.

LEARNING COURTYARDS by SANJAY PURI ARCHITECTS in India won the WA Award Cycle 29. Please find below the WA Award poster for this project.