SCHOOL OF INTEGRAL LEARNING
Location: Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, India
Type: Institutional
Climate: Hot & Dry
Site Area: 8,000 sq.m. ~ 8,6111 sq.ft.
Author: Unitary Design Studio
Client: Aurobindo Foundation
Services: Architecture Design | Sustainable Design
Rooted in Sri Aurobindo’s philosophy of Integral Yoga, this Special School is conceived as a sanctuary for progressive education, translating pedagogical principles into an interconnected sequence of sensory and spatial experiences. Situated in the hot, arid landscape of Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, the project responds to extreme climatic demands alongside a strict non-concrete material mandate.
Drawing inspiration from the time-tested vernacular intelligence of historic Jaipur, the design synthesizes bioclimatic performance, phenomenological richness, and material authenticity. A modular square grid establishes the spatial logic, allowing the built environment to grow incrementally over time. The scheme is organized around four core functional realms, Educational, Residential, Dining, and Recreational, establishing an adaptable, climate-resilient framework designed to evolve alongside its community.
Since the site lies in Jhunjhunu an extremely hot and dry region of Rajasthan, India, combined with the desire of the client to not use concrete in the project, played an important role in in conceptualizing the approach.
The design philosophy was to synthesize bio-climatic architecture, phenomenology and material expression to attend to the various forces governing the program.
As per the initial requirements the design was divided into 4 zones namely residential, eating, educational and recreational. The modular square design allows for the addition of more functions over time thereby making it incremental in nature. The various possible incremental options were also explored. The four main zones are presented in this portfolio.
In essence, the design also takes cues from the old city of Jaipur, which is in close proximity to the site and displays strong vernacular approach to tackle the hot and dry climate of the region.
Residential Zone
The residential block has different housing typologies : e.g. single room, studio, mezzanine studio, courtyard apartment, mezzanine courtyard apartment. All differ-ent housing units use the same module, offering the flexibility to change the number of each type, based on needs. The materiality and natural light conditions of the housing quaters compose an atmosphere of privacy, quiteness and serenity.
Eating Zone
Designed as an environmentally cool, quite and protected space which is immersed in diverse natures for quite meditative eating while viewing nature.
Educational Zone
Educational zone is designed to encourage varied types of interaction between students and teachers from closed classes to semi outdoor classes, to open shaded multi levelled platform offering opportunities for cross class interaction. All types of educational spaces are designed with varied scales to offer diverse possibilites to group of students of different ages and numbers.
Recreational Zone
Reviving the old tradition and modern concept of the hall of columns as a multi purpose open space encouraging diverse usability. The shaded semi-outdoor space is designed as a model of climatically response educational plaza.
Disclaimer: PM Studio worked with Unitary Design Studio, Auroville, Tamil Nadu, for the design of this project
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