An NGO, Round Table, is envisioned to provide study rooms for the students of Kochargaon Village. According to their survey, the village sorely lacked facilities for reading and learning, which has adversely affected the literacy rate. The chosen site was an old collapsed Aanganwadi that still had an undisturbed, stable plinth. That became our plot. It is located in the vicinity of the village’s main temple complex. The temple has a large covered pavilion (at road level) in front, for all the religious and public events of the community. Thus, showcasing the significance of pavilion architecture as a functional and communal space.
Editor’s Note: With the aim to uplift the community as a whole, this library is a unique place for community engagement, creative learning, and inspiration. By integrating minimalism yet impactful design, this library is a perfect example of addressing community requirements with simple architecture. With low-maintenance and cost-effective materials, the design sets a testament to community architecture. ~ Rajvi Dedakiya
This Pavilion Architecture Showcases A Functional And Communal Space | pk_iNCEPTiON
Our site, one meter below road level, is visually and spatially connected to this pavilion and the street. Moreover, the initial plan focused on constructing two study rooms, one designated for males and the other for females.
However, discussions with the NGO and multiple site visits revealed a deeper need to inculcate the importance of education in the community itself.
Furthermore, this unspoken directive urged us to design a space that invites and engages all age groups. Thus, fostering a love for learning while providing a versatile environment for diverse uses. We envisioned a library, a reading area, essential study rooms, and a multipurpose space for various educational activities.
The core concept evolved into three covered spaces: two study areas and a book stacking space, concentric to a central court and participatory to all other areas.
All these were placed on the existing plinth. Additionally, a fourth pavilion was added at the front to create a semi-covered entrance and arrival space for the library.
A series of steps guide visitors from the road to a lower level, transformed into an informal gathering space at the entrance.
The first pavilion, featuring a generous opening with a load-bearing arch, extends a warm welcome. Moreover, this covered verandah, intended for newspaper and magazine racks, invites the elderly to read and relax freely.
From this verandah, one enters the central courtyard, which leads to the book stacking area at the front and two reading rooms on either side.
These rooms orient perpendicular to the temple complex. Additionally, it ensures tranquillity for the students, shielded from public activity noise.
They open solely into the courtyard, providing a versatile space as needed. Strategically facing the temple, the book stacking area beckons villagers with visible, colorful book covers from the street and temple pavilion. Additionally, the stacking area remains open towards the courtyard, with two large sliding shutters to enhance visibility.
These shutters not only reveal the bookshelf but also transform into writable blackboards when closed. However, this duality allows the courtyard to morph into an outdoor classroom for children, a workshop space for youth. Additionally, it allows a night school for the village women, fostering a vibrant educational ecosystem.
The design features high-pitched roofs for the study rooms, oriented east-west. Moreover, this orientation ensures the escape of hot air, seamless cross-ventilation, diffused lighting, and captivating views of the sky and surrounding trees.
Being an NGO project, our design needed to be multifunctional, low-maintenance, and cost-effective. This presided over our choice of material and construction method. The entire structure is load-bearing with expansive arched openings.
The team used corrugated metal sheets to make the pitched roof and locally available stone to finish the floor. Keeping all the prerequisites in mind, we aspired to create a spatial experience that offers tranquility for reading, inclusivity for learning, playfulness for children, and secure book stacking within an open design ethos.
The spatial organization of pavilions around a central court realized these aspirations, with openings meticulously crafted to optimize light, ventilation, and participatory engagement.
Fact File
Designed by: pk_iNCEPTiON
Project Type: Institution / Library
Project Name: Rural Library
Location: Kochargaon, Maharashtra
Year Built: 2024
Project Size: 1162.5 Sq.ft
Principal Architect: Pooja Khairnar
Photograph Courtesy: Pranit Bora
Concept Development: Swasti Rangani, Shantanu Tribhuvan
Design And Working Drawings: Tanishq Tejnani, Tejaswini Kawale
Detailed Drawings: Bhavik Chopada, Shantanu Tribhuvan
Models: Shantanu Tribhuvan, Swaroop Sope
Graphics And Presentation Drawings: Bhavik Chopada
Source: Archdaily
Firm’s Instagram Link: pk_iNCEPTiON
For Similar Projects >> A Vocational Training Institute in Aurangabad while Focusing on Improved Social Responsibility
Gurgaon’s architecture reflects the rapid transformation of a once-sleepy suburb into one of India’s most dynamic urban centers. Characterized by its striking skyline of glass-clad towers, corporate parks, and luxury residences, the city embodies a blend of modernism and global urban aspirations. Contemporary architecture in Gurgaon emphasizes verticality, smart technology, and sustainable design, with green-certified […]
Architecture in Goa is an ever-evolving dialogue between tropical modernism and cultural heritage. Known for its scenic coastline, Portuguese influences, and laid-back charm, Goa carries an architectural identity that seamlessly merges history with contemporary living. In recent years, architects in Goa have been redefining the state’s built environment by blending vernacular wisdom with innovative, sustainable […]
Nestled in the vibrant urban setting of Balaji Nagar, Sangli, The Red Abode with a terracotta facade redefines contemporary living with its seamless integration of modern design and nature. Designed for an IT professional seeking tranquility and inspiration, this project exemplifies how architecture can foster harmony between the built environment and the natural world. A […]
This bungalow in Udaipur, Rajasthan, designed for the Gandhi family, exemplifies a refined blend of modern contemporary architecture with subtle regional sensitivity. The zoning and design is grounded in clean lines, bold geometric volumes, and a sophisticated interplay of materials. The façade combines natural travertine, matte black cladding, and warm wood for contrast and harmony. […]
Nestled in the serene surroundings of Swarnabhoomi, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, Ivory Courtyard is more than just a residence—it is an architectural statement that harmoniously blends Indian traditional values with modern contemporary living. With its pristine ivory colour exterior symbolising purity and sophistication, this home stands as a beacon of elegance and comfort for the two families […]
“Even within the smallest green lies all the purity and freshness of Eden.” This idea became the seed for Eden Moss, a home nestled in an ecological environment and imagined as a breath of freshness, evoking the scent of mud after rain, and seamlessly intertwined with nature while still embracing comfort and contextual charm. Nestled […]
Nestled in what was once a coconut orchard, Sanctum serves as a sanctuary for a retired couple. Their daughter & a feline companion join them to offer a tranquil environment for everyday goings-on. The site is a 60’ x 90’ portion of land with six coconut trees. Two teak wood & silver oak trees, each […]
Tucked into the calm, tree-lined lanes of Nagarbhavi in Bangalore, Avani Residence rises as a poetic response to the chaos of the city, a vertical sanctuary where light dances, materials breathe, and space unfolds in gentle rhythms. Designed by Archemist Architects for a family of four, the residence is a nuanced interplay between constraint and […]
Adorn, a home filled with earthen design and the laughter of a family of four, nestles in the peaceful neighborhood of Selvapuram, Coimbatore. “On one side, it shares boundaries with cozy family homes; meanwhile, the other side opens to expansive fields dotted with tall trees.” The fresh air scented with greenery sets a calming atmosphere […]
The Indian farmhouse accommodation goes on to capitalize on a mature evolutionary synthesis of ancestral aesthetics and contemporary features. With this, the outside and the inside of farmhouses became places of comfort with nature. In this blog, we delve into 15 incredible farmhouse designs that entail a harmonious blending. While they exhibit different spaces in […]