4 Key Features Of A School Building – Architectural Design and Drafting
Architectural design and drafting for school buildings has always been a most fascinating job for top firms, however, it is just as challenging for the construction industry professionals due to numerous factors. An educational institution is a place where the great personalities of tomorrow are molded, and the architectural design of the built environment plays a significant role in preparing a child to become a responsible citizen. Architects shoulder the massive responsibility of creating innovative school architecture that helps in achieving this objective. The requirements and the anthropometrics for different architectural design phases of school architecture are very different from that of other types of structures, making the task of the designers very complex and at the same time very exciting. Following is a brief discussion on the key elements of a school building.
1. Hubs of knowledge: An enabling environment
Schools are the hubs of knowledge in the complete sense. They impart overall learning and groom the students for the future, providing theoretical and practical knowledge, and inducting them into physical, co, and extracurricular activities. Thus, playgrounds are one of the first and most important features of a school that can help students thrive.
2. The built form: Creating the atmosphere
Schools are the very basic ground for laying the foundation of the future generation; hence, it’s a very important built form. Just erecting sets of rectangular or square rooms won’t ensure an effective school building; you are not supposed to erect a structure merely for imparting bookish knowledge, creating an environment to ignite the curiosity of the mind is a must. Paying careful attention to the interiors of classrooms and libraries can make them a place where students would like to spend time and attention. One must employ ideas and designs innovatively through different architectural design phases to provide that environment.
3. Focus on learning: Facilitating creativity
The architectural design and drafting of a school building must ensure that the focus of the child remains on learning. An architect must consider everything from orientation to materials used while planning the building to create the required learning environment. A simple thing such as natural light, for example, being taken in from NORTH when the windows are facing that direction, helps the illumination and ventilation without the glare that is comfortable for the students. Avoiding glare is essential since it makes seeing difficult and might make focusing on a single object more of a task. In addition, providing sufficient natural light also helps cut down on the requirement for artificial lighting, making the structure more environmentally friendly. Similarly, acoustic plays an important role in educational facilities. Making the classrooms and the libraries noiseless enables the students to read in silence and concentration.
4. A disciplined structure: A precious lesson for life
Discipline determines the amount of success, or failure, one tastes in their life. Teaching discipline is part of the responsibility of schools to help the overall development of the students. This presents a great challenge for the architectural team as the structure of the school building must convey a sense of discipline, failing which it would just be an ordinary structure. What makes the job even more challenging is the fact that a school building should also reflect the spirit of freedom. Higher ceilings, wide corridors, and spacious classrooms are just some of the features that can help the cause. Historical experience shows that only a free mind can soak in knowledge without fear or prejudice, and the right physical atmosphere plays a huge part in achieving the said knowledge.
Developing architectural design for schools/ educational institutions is definitely a challenging task for an architect; a thorough understanding related to the philosophy and functioning of the structure is imperative in order to execute the project flawlessly. The endeavor should be to create a built form conducive to students’ learning and development.
