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Saraswati Global School, Faridabad

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The vision for the Saraswati Global School centres on creating a vibrant building that encourages learning outside the classroom as much as inside. The school campus is located in Faridabad, as a response to the increasing need for quality educational facilities in the neighbourhood. Situated amidst low-height residential settlements, the Saraswati School building stands out with its stoutness and structure, setting new design standards while maintaining its legacy of over three decades.

As architects, we have canape experiences by framing spaces that promote a learning environment. The Saraswati School campus aims to fulfill this intent, with each of its functional spaces – the administrative block, the teaching wing, recreation areas, multiple open spaces, and sports facilities enabling socisocialization Safety was an important consideration while designing; thus, the building is wrapped around the site, adopting an introverted form to keep away the prying eyes of the neighbourhood, especially when the children are performing or playing.

The front of the building is narrow that widens to its side, adding more volume and creating a large impact as one passes by it from the road. Ample layering on the façade generates mystery and interest, while the tapered form gives it a unique architectural identity. The design of the school strives to establish continuity, with a warm colour palette of rusty monotones and neutral grey, seamlessly blending it within its surroundings.

With a total built-up of over 1.5 lahks Sq ft, the school is divided into two distinct blocks – the admin block and the teaching wing, which does not make the building look bulky. The demarcation between the two blocks breaks the length of the façade and endows a visual connection to the space behind the school, establishing its extent. It also provides variance to the building character and generates interest in its form, fostering greater student engagement. The administrative block is relatively lower in height, with the entry leading up to a double-height reception and waiting for the area that includes all the offices. The building structure with the glass façade makes way for staggered terraces and recessed common spaces on the rear side of the block.

Integrating the landscape with the built environment helps ensure the students’ mental and physical well-being while also connecting them to nature. Thus, a significant portion of the campus is dedicated to open spaces such as the amphitheatre, the playground, and the sunken court to bolster interaction and collaborative learning. The layout of the main building is planned on the movement pattern for the kids, with the ground floor dedicated to the pre-primary and classes 1-3.

A series of interconnected personal engagement zones such as the indoor play area and library encourage free movement of the younger kids. The first floor houses classes KG and 3rd-5th, along with the computer lab, AV room, social lab, and arts and crafts room. The second and third floors are dedicated to the middle and the senior wing, respectively, with all the classrooms and allied activity areas such as the library, maths lab, and science labs. Each floor also has separate staff rooms for the teachers.

Another critical factor taken into account while designing the school is the integration of natural light and ventilation, as they directly link to the well-being of the students being nurtured in its folds. The design avoids the use of doubly loaded corridors, and instead opens all circulation areas towards the central open court, providing a visual connection throughout the building. This also enables peer-to-peer learning in the corridors and informal settings, moving beyond the realm of the traditional classrooms and instead using the entire building as a learning aid.

As the basement can only house additional rooms, it is opened up to accommodate common activity areas such as the dance/yoga room, art, craft room, music room, a multipurpose hall, and the library, all positioned around the court. A ramp also leads to this floor where parking for staff and buses is provided, felicitating easy access to the multipurpose hall during any event. With the canteen located in the vicinity, the steps along the periphery of the sunken court double up as lunchtime seating and space for get-togethers, making it the liveliest zone in the building. From the amphitheater to the central court and the playground, the space created inside the building is fun, enjoyable, and a facilitator of interaction, with flexible teaching options in the open, further enhancing the student experience.

The design of the Saraswati School prioritizes flexibility, with the classrooms arranged in modules that can be combined or segregated depending on the space requirements. Tasteful interiors with wooden textures and cool colors make the spaces inviting, while the use of laminate wall finishes and vitrified tile flooring makes them easy to maintain. For ease of construction, the school building is divided into two phases: the first one houses the primary and middle school, while the second phase is dedicated to the senior wing. With the first phase already up and running, it makes it easier to construct the second phase without hampering the working of the existing one.

Sensitivity towards the natural environment is of primary import to traditional bricks. The building is also oriented to open out towards the field in the north, enabling optimum natural light, while the south wall has been fitted with vertical sunshades and double-glazed windows to cut off direct glare. With an emphasis on a child-friendly ambiance and value-based learning, Saraswati Global School is designed to create a space that promotes holistic development amongst students, while creating a favourable built environment for interaction and growth.

Quick Facts:
• Project: Saraswati Global School
• Location: Tigaon road, Faridabad
• Client: Maheshwari Shiksha Samiti
• Principal Architects: Meena Murthy Kakkar, Vishal Kakkar
• Site Area (sq ft & sq m): 2.5 Acres
• Built-Up Area (sq ft & sq m): 25,000 Sq ft
• Start Date: June 2018
• Completion Date: January 2020
• Photographer: Suryan and Dang