The Education Committee of The Maheshwari Society added this schooling facility as an extension to its school projects located in Jaipur city. The architecture intent was to synthesize an old school complex into a pleasant, comfortable nurturing environment for the young minds- but also to form a coherent neighborhood landmark that exudes positivity and optimism, emerging as a beacon of hope.
While the aesthetics might not mean as much to all, for many, the look of the building from the outside is important – it reflects to parents, students, and the local community what the school’s values are. The entire community is a part of this narrative. Kids are in school to learn, play and grow. Providing a healthy environment that benefits learning is vital to ensuring this development. Many schools are older buildings that need refurbishment or renovation. One such was the existing school in Jagatpura.
The existing built form has such a mundane aesthetic that it is unable to excite the imagination of young children. The overall zoning of the building is stale as there is a lot of wasted space for the corridors. The space becomes more uneasy with the ventilation of the premises to be subpar.
Sustainable refurbishment describes working on existing buildings to improve their environmental performance using sustainable methods and materials. Refurbishment is often used interchangeably with renovation or restoration which includes restoring a building to its former condition. Refurbishment can encompass such works as ‘cosmetic’ renovations such as painting, decorating, upgrading, major repair work, alterations, conversions, extensions, and modernizations.
The life-cycle of a building can be significantly extended by effective refurbishment, as such it is a key component in achieving a circular economy. As every building is unique, not only structurally, technically, and typologically, but also in local context, the correct approach to refurbishment should be assessed according to the conditions. We can hope to inspire these younger self’s and give them the best place to learn with a better surrounding. Refurbishing a school is about providing a better future for pupils and attempting to give them the start in life which they deserve.