- What does educational design mean to you?
Education design is as much a responsibility and challenge as it is an engaging endeavour for us. Since the school is where children spend a major part of their time, the ability to create comfortable spaces where they will grow up, discovering and learning new things is a worthy duty. Good design is about creating an environment where students will be able to prosper, and grow and nuture individual talents
- How did you, as a designer, get into the same?
After establishing the practice, my father Vijay Gupta and his team completed the first school project in 1987. Since then, we have worked on over a hundred schools across the country.
Every project has been a journey of discovery and growth. Each one was a step forward in trying to create a positive impact through the built environment, ensuring the holistic development of children. It’s been humbling to see the transformation of our practice and design methodologies unfold over 40 years.
- What are the key trends in educational spaces for 2023?
The way we approach education is undergoing a transformation, as showcased by the NEP in 2020. The focus is shifting to a holistic, experiential approach where children are encouraged to adopt self-learning techniques through teamwork, collaboration, and research. In a world dictated by digital technology, children should be encouraged not just to absorb information but to adapt to a rapidly changing world. Children need to be taught not just to look at information, but to process and use information. With this shift, there’s been a change in the demand for the kind of spaces that are required in a school or in an institutional setting.
Spaces that prioritise the social and emotional well-being of children have gained significance, especially post the pandemic. A key trend is free-flowing, flexible spaces that allow students to move around and engage with their peers and educators without inhibitions. This not only helps children gain more confidence in interacting with the people around them, but also allows them to interact with their surroundings, thus augmenting their curious nature. Similarly in the interiors, spaces that foster discussion and collaboration are being favoured. Teachers today are facilitators and not just educators and the spaces we design should cater to the evolving needs of the education system.
More importantly, schools are creating more opportunities for the different needs of children, by incorporating a varied range of activity spaces within the school’s spatial layout. This enables children to pursue their interests and explore their creativity. Its the coming toegther of various ideas lilke these that create an environment for a child’s holistic development.
- How do you plan to incorporate the same in your designs?
We believe it’s important to focus on spaces outside the classrooms as well. Apart from the classrooms themselves, these spaces can enable discussions and collaboration among children by incorporating interactive elements, encouraging children to collaborate with each other. The entire concept of a school layout has undergone a transformation, with a focus on hands-on, project-based learning. Incorporating spaces for reflection, informal knowledge sharing and ensuring that children are kept engaged at all times through material interventions are some strategies we employ in our own projects.
For instance, our approach to the design for Vedanya School in Gurugram was based on research that showcased how children’s cognitive agility and social skills were enhanced when they were allowed to move freely. In response, the layout enables diverse opportunities for exploration and activity. Curvilinear spaces, double-height volumes, and vertical and horizontal interconnections maximise mobility and openness in the interiors, stepping away from the monotonous approach of enclosed classrooms.
- A few tips for designing the perfect space for kids?
While enabling a sense of freedom is important, access to the outdoors is equally important while designing spaces for kids. In today’s age, children’s interaction with nature is meagre. To instil respect for their surroundings and counter the ever present disconnect between man and nature, especially in urban settings, outdoor learning spaces and activity areas should be a key consideration while designing spaces for kids. We should ensure that seamless inside-outside connections are established. Access to natural light and ventilation in indoor spaces are known to enhance the well-being of a building’s occupants.
Our design for Euro School, Bannerghatta was guided by the primary motive to cultivate respect and curiosity for nature amongst students. The spatial layout worked in tandem with the school’s teaching methodology, and in fact influenced the curriculum, with it becoming an intrinsic part of the planning process itself. An interconnection with nature was achieved through many spatial strategies. Outdoor classrooms were planned in addition to the indoor learning spaces to encourage students to observe, learn and interact with their environment. A student’s holistic development depends on a pedagogic approach that not only prioritizes discipline but also inculcates sustainable values, and through the design, we attempted to incorporate strategies where learning happens in, from and with nature. Hence, the outdoor spaces are a fundamental part of the school’s architecture.
- Can you unveil the Physiological factors to consider while planning the same?
There is ample research that shows that exposure to light, open spaces, and nature is critical to students’ emotional and psychological well-being. Studies show that optimising childrens’ connection to nature and their surroundings enhances their creativity and problem-solving abilities. Moreover, it reduces attention deficit tendencies, increases physical activity, improves social skills and reduces stress.
- How does one pick colours and furniture?
The general trend is to go in for bright colours in school settings. However, they can be disconcerting for children. On the other hand, subtle and neutral colours have a more soothing effect and are conducive to studying. Subtle pops of colour in strategic spaces like the activity rooms ensure there are some identifiable pockets, and breathe vibrancy into common areas in the school.
We need to be mindful of functional requirements and spatial layouts when it comes to picking furniture. Typically, furniture should be lightweight, ergonomically comfortable and easily usable in various configurations. Materials are also an important consideration. Care should be taken to ensure the comfort of children. Wherever possible, we should ensure that eco-conscious materials are used.
- Are there any upcoming educational projects coming from your end?
The practice has a foothold in the institutional architecture space, and currently we’re working on a variety of projects in the studio, of various scales at various levels of conceptualisation and completion. For instance, there’s a university campus that’s being constructed in Mumbai, and we recently started working on a kindergarten in Nagpur.