St Martha Bethany Vidyalaya School Phase 1, the ideal constructive envelope for the context

The context in which the project is set

The time and topography of Punjab were unlike anything the architects at Kamat & Rozario Architecture studio had experienced before. An extreme climate with summers reaching almost 50 degrees and winters at zero degrees. The countryside's topography is very interesting: Settlements here resemble a galaxy of dense clusters, created to stay away from the fertile and highly irrigated arable land. This is one of the highest cereal-producing regions in the country. Kilometers and kilometers of uninterrupted plains, with the absence of mountainous obstacles, create hostile winds with high speeds that raise a lot of dust.

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The building that protects from the winds

The St. Martha Bethany Vidyalaya school subject of the intervention is located on the outskirts of one of these settlements among the fields called Ludhiana. The designers, specialized in sustainable architecture projects, analyzed the context: the summer conditions are quite cool thanks to the nearby rice cultivation areas, and the panoramic views are pleasant, but at the end of each rice harvesting cycle there are frequent dust storms. These site characteristics have led, in the architectural project, to the arched shape of the school building. The walls, like a fortress, aim to deflect the gusts of wind and channel them through the openings of the structure in a more delicate version.

Colors and textures that contrast with the weathering agents

The taupe color of the walls aims to match that of the surrounding terrain so that the effects of weathering agents are camouflaged. The interruptions in the "fortress" wall feature bridge elements in vibrant colors. Most openings are oriented towards small courtyards. Very few openings face the prevailing winds, and the courtyards are shaded during the day. The sizes of these courtyards are small to maintain a sense of intimacy as they also serve as play spaces for younger children.