LITERATURE

STUDY
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN V – PLAY SCHOOL
FARMING
KINDERGARTEN
DONGNAI, VIETNAM
INTRODUCTION Vietnam historically an agricultural country is facing changes as it
moves to a manufacturing based economy, taking its toll on the
environment.

Increased droughts, floods and salinization jeopardize food

supplies, while numerous motorbikes cause daily congestion and air
pollution in the cities.

Rapid urbanization deprives Vietnamese children of green lands and

playgrounds, thus relationship with nature.

Farming Kindergarten is a challenge to counter these issues.

To build a society that values sustainable growth and environmental

responsibility, the best investment you can make is early education.

That's the approach Vo Trong Nghia Architects took in designing

Farming Kindergarten, a sustainable educational space topped with
an accessible green roof.
Located in Dongnai in southeastern Vietnam, this knot-shaped
kindergarten was built with interactive energy-saving features to
educate preschoolers on the importance of caring for the
environment.

Built in a tropical climate, the spiraling green roof can stay lush year
round and provides more than enough food for its 500 preschool
children.

Two sloping ends of the triple ring-shaped structure are neatly tucked
beneath a raised loop, landing flush with the three inner courtyards.
These internal courtyards offer a protected and comfortable play
space for the children.

All functions are accommodated under the roof. As the roof lowers
to the courtyard it provides access to the upper level and vegetable
gardens on top- the place where children learn the importance of
agriculture and recover connection to nature.
Beneath the green roof, the classrooms and indoor spaces are shielded from the sun by concrete louvres.
The building is made of a continuous narrow strip with two side operable windows which maximize the cross
ventilation and natural lighting.

The kindergarten is operated without AC in the classrooms despite being located in a harsh tropical climate.

The combination of local materials and low-tech construction methods are applied,
which also help minimize the environmental impact as well as promote local industry.
 Architectural and mechanical
energy-saving methods are
comprehensively applied :
Green roof as insulation, green
facade as shading and solar
water heating.
These devices are designed
visibly and play an important
role in the children’s sustainable
education.
Factory wastewater are recycled
to irrigate greenery and flush
toilets.

Recycled materials, water recycling, solar-powered heating and other energy-efficient

and eco-friendly features are visibly designed into the building to teach children about
energy saving processes.
DPS KINDERGARTEN
BANGLORE
 The brief was called to design a franchise for a popular north

INTRODUCTION
Indian school chain called Delhi Public School.

Since the model was to be potentially replicated across several

schools in South India, they were asked to create a simple and
cost-effective language that could be adapted easily to different
site conditions and slightly varying programs.

While the overall master plan comprises a kindergarten, junior,

middle and senior school block that will eventually cater to 4000
children; the current kindergarten facility has 25 classrooms, and
with 40 children a class, a total strength of 1000.

The primary challenge was to design and complete construction

of the first 35,000 sq. ft. Kindergarten block within a 6-month
time span at an efficient cost of Rs.1200/sq. ft. The efficiencies
of designing and constructing a building so rapidly had to be
balanced with what they believed in; creating a warm, playful
and welcoming environment for these young children that would
be filled with natural light and ventilation.
They created an efficient modular system that they could use as building
blocks. They looked at the basic module of 700 sq. ft. classroom (35ft x 20
ft.) that could be repeated horizontally, or stacked one atop the other.  The
classrooms on either side flank an 8ft wide single-loaded corridor and open
up to a central open-to-sky courtyard.

The simplicity of the repetitive exposed concrete structure is what eventually

dictated the design outcome as they added flexible layers onto it. A
corrugated metal wall was added on all corridors, which would serve a dual
purpose; facilitate speed of construction and be durable for the wear and tear
school corridors usually take. The corrugated sheets also gave the
opportunity to play with pattern and use tropical colors typical of the
vernacular architecture of the region.
Other contextual references are in the vernacular
terracotta jaalis that wrap around parts of the
building and are included on both sides of each
classroom to facilitate adequate cross-ventilation
from NE to SW. The jaalis cut down the sun
especially on the western face of the building where
we have effectively used them in breakout areas.
Judging the sun directions they played with a
number of devices: horizontal and vertical pergolas
and a combination of two different patterns of jaali
on the exterior that create interesting patterns on the
building at different times of the day.
The central linear open-to –sky court that runs the entire length of the building is the soul of the
school and facilitates learning outside the classroom. The temperate climate of Bangalore allows
for open to sky discussion on benches surrounding the courtyard trees or on the steps of the
corridors.
In an age of air-conditioned schools becoming increasingly popular, they have attempted an
energy-efficient and cost-effective approach that utilizes minimal electrical load during the day
due to effective harnessing of breezes and adequate natural light during the day.
YELLOW TRAIN
KINDERGARTEN
COIMBATORE
INTRODUCTION
The brief was to follow the intent of Waldorf system of
Education but be within the bye laws laid by the Tamil
Nadu Board of education.
Waldorf system stresses hugely on child centric education
wherein more impetus is given on mental, spiritual,
physical and psychological than only the academics.
So while conventional classrooms are provided there is
ample space and details added to make the kindergarten
and primary wing, which is the present first phase, to
accommodate and encourage activity based group
learning.
An individual classroom has three spaces- a space where
teacher leads with the blackboard and seating, circled
areas where group activity occurs with walls provided
with facility to hang works of children and nooks which
allow for individual contemplation.
While a learning space is created they
have tried new to stretch our boundaries
of exploring the ecological issues.
Since basements as classrooms were not
allowed they decided to get the
classrooms as well as play spaces to be close to 1.5 meters below the road level whereby the
soil for construction was sourced.
Play is a very important part of the
system. Coimbatore being a hot climate play
spaces have been brought in within the building
too thereby making them accessible to children
at all times. Caves and unusually lit spaces like
through jalis allow for explorations and creation
of fantasy. An open air theatre within the
interior environs encourages the children to
create impromptu acts.
The entire roof's water is harvested and stored as well as recharged. The building is completely accessible by a
ramp. It is day lit and ventilated passively.
INFERENCE
NAME CLASS ROOM PLAY AREA CORRIDORS CIRCULATION

FARMING
KINDERGARTEN

DPS
KINDERGARTEN

YELLOW TRAIN
KINDERGARTEN

INFERENCE MORE OPENINGS EXPOSED TO MORNING WALLS PUNCTURED VIBRANT AND

WINDOWS AND JAALI SUNLIGHT WITH JAALI AND CREATIVE
WORKS LOUVERS