The school building design is meant to be used for schooling and grooming young children in the age group of 4 to 7 years. The BRBNMPL Salboni Township is a self-sustained area spread across 580 acres of land with a colonial legacy. Located 160 kilometres away from Kolkata and 20 kilometres from the nearest town, Midnapore, the area of this school building design used to be an airfield for the British army during the Second World War.
Editor’s Note: “A simple spatial layout encircles the central play courtyard, with periodic screens and fenestrations that evoke a sense of playfulness and curiosity in this nursery school. The captivating central play area bursts with vibrant, colorful geometric patterns, embracing the true essence of a nursery school. Bathed in abundant natural daylight, the school becomes a haven for young, curious minds.” ~Simran Khare
The Area of this School Building Design Used to be an Airfield for the British Army | URBANA
In preschools or nursery schools, communication is conveyed through various mediums, including the emphasis on the quality and educational potential of the environment. The physical arrangement of the setting promotes interactions, communication, and relationships, all of which are crucial for children’s learning and development. Teachers thoughtfully organize the space to encourage engagement in small groups, fostering exchanges and negotiations among peers. This approach enables children to develop essential social and emotional skills that are vital to their overall well-being and success.
The entire building of Blossom Nursery School surrounds the central play area, like a courtyard surrounded by a building. This provides a semi-private space to the users, as well as several getaways to the outer space through cutouts.
The sense of a visual enclosure never affects or works as a barrier to physical movements. The building plan is simple.
Different rooms are organised in clusters, connected by a common corridor under one roof. The roof has punctures in different common spaces to allow the sun and rain to initiate a bond with the different attributes of weather.
It was mentioned in the design brief provided by the client that the proposed school building should be aesthetically pleasing, inspiring, and harmonious with the natural surroundings, highlighting the local culture, theme, elements, and materials, adhering as far as possible to the required safety standards.
As the physical environment is the third important teacher, it shall emphasise experiential learning following the principles of respect, responsibility, and community through exploration, discovery, and play.
The school building was expected to be designed to have natural lighting, indoor plants, play areas, common space, etc., in such a way that it focuses on the student-centred, self-guided, and self-directed curriculum.
The local art features earthy, warm colours blended to complement the red soil. Designers use various penetrations, screens, and cut-outs to shield against harsh sun rays while allowing wind to circulate and reduce heat during the summer.
The centrally landscaped area is the heart of this school, with more than 8500 sq. ft of curated play area. The design combines a soft-soil area with hardscape rubberised flooring (EPDM) to protect children from injury.
To make the entire area vibrant and attractive to the little ones, we have used bright and contrasting colours in EPDM. Having a line of plants along the peripheral area of the central court, the main area flourishes with bright red, blue, orange, yellow, etc.
The design of the colours and patterns caters to both play and fun and also supports various student activities, allowing for continuous sensory training.
Under that, proper services were constructed to keep the area from any kind of external damage or natural disasters. For the peripheral green, we choose simple locally available plants like Acalypha, Bougainvillaea, Croton, etc. for easy availability and maintenance.
The design of the school’s premises draws inspiration from the local context of rural Bengal. The choice of colours, shades, and textures promotes the rural flavour of the site surroundings. The central courtyard encompasses over 8500 square feet of a carefully curated play area.
The design combines soft soil and hardscaped rubberised flooring (EPDM) to ensure student safety. Bright and contrasting colours promote a vibrant place for young minds and also stimulate sensory training.
Adequate services have been provided beneath the area to ensure that it remains safe from external damage or natural disasters. The ideology of nature-oriented learning greatly influences the design output.
Fact File
Designed by: URBANA
Project Type: Institution Design
Project Name: Blossom Nursery School
Location: Salboni, West Midnapore, West Bengal
Year Built: 2022-2024
Duration of the project: 23 Months
Built-up Area: 5068.8976 Sq.ft
Project Cost: 3.71 Crore
Principal Architect: Ar. Soumyajit Kar
Team Design Credits: Ar. Ayan Purkaite, Ar. Somdev Datta & Er. Rupam majumder
Photograph Courtesy: URBANA
Structure Engineers: Descorp
Landscape Architects: Inscape Design Studio
Contractors: AAECS
Firm’s Website Link: URBANA
The Firm’s Instagram Link: URBANA
Firm’s Facebook Link: URBANA
For Similar Project >>> Vibrant School Facade has a Certain Innocence in its Rudimentary Shapes
Nestled amidst the scenic hillocks of Hosapete, Karnataka, the House of Terraces is a spacious 8,000 sq ft residence thoughtfully designed for a multigenerational family comprising grandparents, their two sons, and their respective families. Gentle hills dotted with windmills envelope the site, providing a picturesque backdrop that the design thoughtfully engages with. Situated on a […]
The client, a high-profile corporator from the Thane Municipal Corporation, desired a modern bungalow design that epitomizes class, quality, and luxury. The design requirements included 5 bedrooms, visitor and informal living areas, and amenities such as a spa and jacuzzi, all distributed within a G+1 structure covering approximately 10,000 sq. ft. His emphasis was clear […]
This elegant residence is constructed using locally available Jodhpur sandstone. The elevation is thoughtfully designed using stone to seamlessly blend traditional craftsmanship with modern design, creating a captivating combination of historical artistry and contemporary elegance. It showcases majestic, timeless stone architecture. The central arch stands tall in a concrete jungle as a focal point, harmoniously […]
When it comes to construction, two of the most common materials are concrete blocks and bricks. In architecture, choosing the right materials can feel like navigating a maze. With so many options available, how do you determine which is best for your project? Both materials have their unique characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages. Let’s dive deep […]
With sheer simplicity and understated elegance, the estate house intertwines harmoniously with the mountain on three distinct levels and blends seamlessly into the natural landscape. Staying true to our philosophy, the materials used are natural, with wooden flooring, random-rubble walls, cobblestone pathways, and log rafters. Estate Paathri is a Private Residence spread across a forested […]
The design of 2×2 has multiple meanings in this project but primarily signifies the “double duplex”, a concept that this house originates from. Today’s family in the Indian context is one that advocates for independent-living, yet the tradition of a joint-family is what makes our culture so closely-knit. Privacy yet togetherness – a key balance […]
In this Baroda house project, we bring together a blend of two seemingly different styles – contemporary and ethnic – to create a unique and visually stunning space bathed in understated luxury. Interior design is all about creating spaces that reflect the individuality and style of the homeowner. The client Yashwant bhai Shah came to […]
Having spent their childhood growing up in old colonial home in New Delhi, the clients wanted one that would reflect their fond memories and take them back to their roots. Since it was their first, they wanted to build a simple residence that allowed a lot of natural light in and felt open and inviting […]
This six bedroom house design stands as an embodiment of elegance and innovation. Meticulously designed, this six bedroom house design, complete with two living rooms and a state-of-the-art kitchen, epitomises sophisticated architecture and thoughtful planning. Every element of this residence tells a unique story, offering a living experience that is both refined and deeply personal. […]
The door design for main door is a defining feature of any Indian home, embodying both style and cultural significance. In a country rich with diverse architectural traditions, the entrance to your home reflects not only personal taste but also cultural heritage. Whether you’re drawn to the intricate carvings of traditional Indian door designs or […]