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TOY STORY-Adelie International Playschool - Shanthinikethana Initiative
- Rohini Gomez Braganza
- May 14, 2020
- 7:58 am
- No Comments
ARTICLE CONTENTS
PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS
Project Architect: Swapnil Valvatkar
swapnil@collagestudio.co.in
Design Team: Prachi Garode, Bhavana U, Shubbha Baggoan
Architecture Firm: COLLAGE – Architecture Studio
collagestudio.co.in
Location: Bangalore, India
Site area: 4800 sqft
Built up area: 14,526 sq ft
Year of completion: 2018
Project Type: Institution
An educational institution builds the foundation for a growing child’s overall development. The commencing years of the school going journey are the pivotal years that moulds a child’s personality in every sense possible. To achieve this a child must start independently, explore and participate with a great sense of untamed freedom. But when the conventional design of schools aims to tame, restrict and confine a child’s spirit within four blank walls, how must they truly flourish?
Here is an example of a pre-school design that tries to conquer just that. Perched in the midst of a residential locality of a bustling city, is a revolutionary piece of architecture design that is beyond the conventional. A millennial institution that breaks down those walls that we are all so familiar with.
Introducing ‘TOY STORY’, designed by Architect Swapnil Valvatkar, founding partner of COLLAGE – Architecture studio, Bangalore, India.
Let us delve into the Architect’s design methodology to accomplish this objective.
THE DESIGN PROCESS
The Goal
‘TOY STORY’ had to be mould-breaking and deviate away from the archetypal school design. There would be none of the 4-walled classrooms and monotonous corridors. The ‘conventional’ design only formed more and more barriers to young minds, caging their sense of freedom. To break away from this mindset, the school design would have to manifest a composition of flexible multi-functional spaces. These spaces would instil creativity, exploration, experimentation, out-of-the-box expression, which is what the clients aimed to achieve off their end users. Most importantly it would encourage freedom, that focuses on expanding a child’s horizons.
In a nutshell, it would be the epitome of the future educational system.
Addressing the Site
Many aspects of the pre-existing site conditions played pivotal roles in the overall design functionality of the built form. The rectangular plot is surrounded by apartments on 3 sides and a vehicular road on one. Coincidentally the roadside face also overlooks a neighbourhood park which is the only revitalising view along the periphery of the plot. The Architect leveraged this view into the design by creating framed vantage points for the upper floors. These frames translate into facade feature elements as well, essentially making the front elevation visually pleasing to the pedestrian.
The site also had a difficult sloping terrain which was dealt with great prowess in the planning process.
The Concept
Beginning the design process from the pre-existing site conditions, the Architect envisioned the building to be “inward-looking” in function. It would have an interior oasis with the purpose of positively revitalising its occupants. To maximise its purpose he planned to locate it at the core of the structure where it could be experienced to its best potential from every nook and cranny. The oasis would also enhance the interactive connectivity within the confines of the built mass, making the design truy futuristic and flexible.
Keeping the basic built shell in mind, he commenced with picturing the functionality of the building. Since its occupants would mainly be within the age group of 2 to 5 years, the building’s functionality had to serve them in the best possible way.
Inspired by the quote,
“At birth the (child’s) mind is a blank slate without rules for processing data, and that data is added and rules for processing are formed solely by one’s sensory experiences”-Sir Locke
The architect comprehended the statement relative to a child’s behavioral patterns. He observed that a child processed information at its best ability whilst playing with toys. While playing a child is able to think, interact, respond and learn, all at the same time. They show a great level of excitement and curiosity by the sheer colors and forms of toys. Thus, to nurture this learning ability it would be only fitting to surround a child in a playful environment or a veritable ‘toy house’.
This is how the theme of the project came about. And thus, the TOY STORY was born.
The Design Approach
Keeping these concepts and theories in mind, the design process began from the core of the project and took fold into the ‘inward-looking’ building that it is today.
The ‘Core’ manifests the central tree courtyard located on the ground floor of the building layout. On either side of this courtyard is a free flow of open space. The structure then builds itself vertically around the courtyard, spiralling upwards into a composition of interlinking bridges, undulating staggering of floor levels and then terminates at a large skylight forming the apex.
Great emphasis is given to the vertical expanse of the central tree courtyard for visual transparency through the entire structure. The skylight apex truly manifests the grandness of the space and its importance to the design.
This vertical expanse is contained horizontally on all four sides with flexible multifunctional spaces. Complementing them beautifully are hints of interior landscape. All these spaces together overlook the central courtyard.
Spatial Planning
At ground level the spatial composition of spaces is free flowing and mainly responds to the pre-existing site terrain. From the roadside entrance one is welcomed by an Exhibition area and the Central court. This then flows into a terraced multipurpose Amphitheatre.
The plethora of spaces in the upper floors comprise a toy library, classrooms, activity zones, swimming pool and play areas. These spaces are very versatile in terms of design, area, function and purpose.
The Architect wanted to reflect 3 paramount elements into each of the spaces he designed:-
1. Thematic approach
2. Versatile multi-functional spaces
3. Free flow of spaces
1. Thematic approach
The carefully curated themes for each space makes them very inviting and quite distinct from one another. This approach creates an immense sense of inquisitiveness with variety, immersing the child into truly experiencing their surroundings.
A child’s curiosity is boosted thereafter with strategically placed niches, crawl-in spaces, lowered fenestration and ceiling levels. All these elements together make a child enter into a comfort zone, enabling them to focus on self exploration.
Examples of some themes used are the world map, solar system, cityscape, toyhouse.
2. Versatile multi-functional spaces
Since flexibility was a paramount requirement, the Classrooms, library can be transformed into versatile multifunctional spaces. The Architect incorporated smartly designed open-able wall partitions onto the floor plate to achieve this. This gives the option to enlarge or reduce the size of spaces as and when needed, making them useful to introduce any form of activity.
Besides being mere partitions, these walls serve as multipurpose contraptions themselves, housing storage space; large softboards, blackboards and mirrors.
3. Free flow of spaces
Adding to the versatility of these spaces is the free flow into semi open play zones. Play is vital for the development of a child, but with the pre-existing site challenges the Architect was unable to establish a proper playground onto the ground level landscape. He instead incorporated this into the Activity room design. Here a child is able to venture from the activity room directly into semi-open spaces that house play equipment similar to that of a playground.
A Colorful Canvas
“Art is a place for children to learn, to trust their ideas, themselves and to explore what is possible”
– Maryann F Kohl
The Architect cleverly amalgamates art into the overall design language, like painting on a blank canvas.
How does he do this?
The overall built form is made to manifest a clean white canvas, that anticipates a lift in some form. Leveraging these blank surfaces, he takes the liberty to add finishing touches using tasteful art installations. These additions come in a multitude of forms, primary colors and shapes making the school look artistically dramatic. This enhances the creative vibe within the built space adding to the sensory experiences of the kids.
Marrying these art forms with natural light, produces an array of colours and shadow patterns onto the white canvas-like walls. This kaleidoscopic effect adds a great level of dynamism into the space as it is relative to the varying intensities of natural light streaming in.
A few noteworthy installations are:- Ceiling hung thread chandeliers over the central tree court; a sea like feature of ceiling-hung colorful-acrylic-slats over the kids pool area; wall hung handcrafted installation in nails and interwoven threads of late president of India, APJ Kalam; handrails adorned with traditional wooden Channapatna discs.
Externally the school facade is a unique composition of white washed framed boxes, adorned with large fenestration. Screens of colourful louvres add a splash of colour to the fenestration, like framed art canvases.
The combination of a little colour splashed onto a white canvas as seen both internally and externally, marries the holistic elevation as one.
THE EPITOME OF A SYSTEM
Today the pre-school is a contemporary and edgy piece of architecture that celebrates true craftsmanship. It bypasses the functionality and design of the conventional playschool of our times. This mould-breaking step against the “conventional institution” design shows a great level of prowess and grit from the Architect. It is only fair to say that design can truly define the environment where a little child thrives. Or rather design defines the nature of a growing child.
Hopefully with this blueprint more future designers will attempt to rewrite the rulebook, unhampered by the usual strictures of a conventional build.
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Project drawings, specifications & Photography provided by the respective Project Architect
Analysis & Article written by Architect Rohini Gomez Braganza