Learning Beyond The Confines – The Wockhardt Global School, Aurangabad | Mandviwala Qutub & Associates
The school is designed on a built-unbuilt concept to foster a child’s curiosity and respect for nature while pursuing a formal education. With the ultimate user – the student kept in mind, each element around the school is designed to nurture their holistic growth beyond classroom learning.
Visit: Mandviwala Qutub & Associates
Constructed over 18-acres, this built to minimum school is designed over an untouched 30-acres contoured land climaxing into a magnificent lake with a central forest and a stream. Every structure to create a sense of oneness with nature is chiseled out of exposed concrete with punctured roofs and walls allowing natural lighting, connectivity, and a play of light and shadow.
Central spine connecting the school
A natural stream flows into the lake as the road on the north part of the site sits at a higher level than the lake at the south. Based on this, a central spine was constructed connecting the different school areas along the stream, from north to south. The informal portions of the school like the cafeteria, activity block and pre-primary section are kept at lake edge while the more intense and formal portions of the school like classrooms, administration block and multipurpose hall are at the higher levels.
The Administration
Designed around the central courtyard with inviting greens and sunlight penetrating through the structure, this area displays the binary design concept using the beautiful play of sunlight throughout the day.
The classrooms
The two-story classroom blocks are naturally lit and are aligned from north to south allowing the diffused, uniform, and non-glare sunlight in while keeping the harsh south sunlight and heat off. Their cross-stacked design creates open-air study areas, deep verandahs, and shaded courtyards for the children to play.
The Library
The library oozes with connectivity through informal semi-open seating that faces the future forest. It breaks away from the traditional old school learning and allows children to run and explore their thoughts in the open.
The Multipurpose Room
The multipurpose room is a composition of concrete and glass with a sculptured spiral staircase leading to the terrace to experience the vista of the scenic lake. The state-of-the-art half Olympic size swimming pool, indoor air-conditioned sports hall and a 400m sports track with tennis, basketball, and volleyball courts along with an informal play field throughout the campus allow the physical well-being of the child.
The Pre-Primary
The pre-primary classrooms are placed besides a huge tree and the lake to experience the migrant birds and changing landscape throughout the year making it a part of their play-and-learn experiences in a childproof and an interactive setting.
The Amphitheater
The Amphitheatre has been designed to host art, music, dance and drama performances/festivals under the open sky and allowing nature to play the perfect backdrop.
Given the severe weather conditions in the region a large portion of the school has been forested in an attempt to create a micro-climate with hands-on experiences for children like organic farming, waste composting, rainwater harvesting, wastewater recycling, passive cooling and arrest global warming which will bring cooler periods to the hot weather there while educating children for the future we desperately need.
FACT FILE:
Design By: Mandviwala Qutub & Associates
Principal Architect: Ar. Qutub Mandviwala
Project Type: Institutional
Project Name: The Wockhardt Global School
Location: Aurangabad, MH, India.
Size: sq feet: 1.50 lakh
Project Cost appx: 35-40 crore INR
Photograph courtesy: Ms. Pradnya Ranaware
Website: http://www.mqa.in/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mqamumbai
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mqa_official/
The site is located in Ahilyanagar town of Maharashtra, with a design brief of 7,000 sq feet, while the house had to be designed for the hot and dry climate, which responds carefully to extreme temperatures, intense sunlight, and low humidity. The design focuses on reducing heat gain, improving natural ventilation, and creating comfortable indoor spaces with […]
“Pravah” — A House That Breathes is envisioned as the main concept of this home revolves around a fluid, light-filled home where architecture becomes a continuous experience of movement, air, and connection. Located in Pal Gamtal, Surat, the project is a residential redevelopment on a 1,850 sq.ft. plot within a dense urban fabric. The site, […]
SapanoUday is a contemporary residence that balances material rawness with layered textures and crafted detail, aligning modern living with cultural and spatial sensibilities. Designed by Hundreddesigns, the home responds closely to the client’s routines and artistic inclinations while thoughtfully integrating Vastu principles. HundredDesigns The designers defined the architecture through a minimal palette, using exposed concrete […]
KRIPA is a residence that reflects the personality and lifestyle of its homeowner — calm, open, and rooted in nature. The project focuses on creating light-filled, green spaces with minimal private zones, encouraging openness and connection. In a time when spaces are shrinking but expectations are rising, architecture becomes the medium to bridge this gap […]
The Sculpted Sanctuary is a masterclass in modern minimalist design. The project focuses on “Quiet Luxury”. It is the idea that a space doesn’t need bright colors or flashy decor to feel expensive. Instead, it uses raw natural materials, rich textures, and sharp architectural lines. This Home Is A Masterclass In Modern Minimalist Design | […]
SIDHARTHA, is a four-bedroom modern house which is functional and aesthetic driven by the specific needs of the client. The location of the site is in a dense neighbourhood in Bengaluru, India. The contemporary urban dwelling frequently negotiates competing demands. It balances generous daylight and visual connection to the street with privacy, dust control, and […]
Located in HMT Layout, Bangalore, Isha_Srinidhi Nilaya stands as a multi-generational home designed on a compact 60×40 ft (2400 sq. ft) East facing plot, with a total built-up area of 8000 sq. ft. East Facing a lush public park, the residence responds to its urban setting through a layered design that balances privacy with a […]
Timeless architectural features, such as courtyards, are always associated with bringing the naturally public forms to the world’s heart, building the most peaceful, secluded outdoor areas. These outdoor spaces maximize the living experience with their private space feature, which gives one the option for leisurely relaxation, recreation, or gardening. Furthermore, it has also been a […]
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 […]
Plants for home garden, apart from making houses look more beautiful and inviting, add health and calmness to them. Having any kind of indoor plant, a herb plant or a flowering plant adds some value to your decor and the quality of the space. Always choose plants that will flourish in your space and climate. […]