Khizar Farooq, a young Pakistani architect who began his career in 2014 at the design division of the company Farooq & Associates, is passionate about designing structures that may age gracefully. Khizar is a follower of the adage “form follows function,” yet at the same time, his designs reveal his adoration for brutalism. Aesthetic outcomes are produced by the skillful blending of basic materials with sensible glazing and apertures.
The users of the building must also be interested in the school that Khizar and his team in Dhamial designed. The project’s design completed its final phases in the year 2019, proceeded with its planned development in 2020, and will take about 5 years to complete. The area of the school is 51.7 Kanals.
A well-known school in Pakistan is located on the grounds of SLS Montessori & School in Dhamial. To demonstrate Khizar’s innovations and ecologically responsible approach, this case study examines the School’s design, materials, construction, and sustainability elements.
1. Design
The S.L.S School’s architecture is the outcome of meticulous and ongoing monitoring of the needs of the surrounding natural environment. To comprehend the situation and create a comprehensive design brief, Khizar and his team engaged in a rigorous and detailed study. As a result, they were able to establish a cooperative strategy that made sure the School’s architecture was modified to meet the demands of the community, the students, and the teachers.
1.1 Planning
The playground serves as both the primary green focal point and the foundation for the school’s design. The school is divided into three main sections according to grades and can accommodate about 5000 students from kindergarten to the tenth grade. An atrium with good lighting serves as the primary entrance lobby. The administrative building comprises office space, retail space, and an indoor pool. Classrooms, staff rooms, lab facilities, and principal offices are all located in Blocks A, B, and C.
1.2 Design Solutions
The school’s architecture aims to provide a learning environment that supports students’ well-being while blending in with the surrounding scenery. Khizar integrated several significant design innovations to meet this goal, including:
– Biophilic Design: The School incorporated lush green areas, a ceiling punctured by gaps that allow trees to penetrate, and natural light to create a relaxing and therapeutic ambiance. The design’s inclusion of nature enhances students’ general well-being.
– Student-Centric Approach: The design seeks to put the comfort of the students first and foster a welcoming and encouraging environment. The layout of the school incorporates enough spaces for parent visits, outdoor areas, and a quiet room to enhance the overall experience of the children and teachers.
– Circulation and Wayfinding: Khizer carefully considered staff and student movement when designing the school’s layout. To reduce anxiety and uncertainty, clear pathways and simple wayfinding systems were installed, assuring effective facility navigation.
1.3 Interactive Spaces
Blocks A, B, and C have been designed with each age group having its block, with Block A serving as the wing for the youngest children, Block B serving as the wing for middle schoolers, and Block C serving as the wing for seniors. Khizar claims that during the various design phases, attention was primarily paid to the movement and flow patterns of the pupils, which aided in the creation of learning spaces and the study of the stream paths made possible by the breathing spaces. There are sitting and lounging areas on the multi-level steps.
2. Form and Materials
2.1 Form
The windows on the building elevations come in a variety of basic shapes, including rectangles, circles, squares, and triangular half. The building form’s use of fundamental geometrical shapes emphasizes learning, engages the senses, and promotes interactive learning. The building will undoubtedly draw visitors, mostly students, who will explore it and seek out interesting areas, which will improve learning.
2.2 Materials
A blend of combinations that both age well with time and benefit the children is produced by using raw materials like concrete with plenty of shade and landscaping. Concrete is a symbol of purity and complements the environment perfectly.
The design’s entire experience guarantees that consumers will learn as much as possible.
3. Sustainability
The School’s multiple elements amply demonstrate sustainable design principles:
– Energy Efficiency: To reduce energy use, the school installed occupancy sensors, LED lighting, and energy-efficient HVAC systems. Additionally, using natural ventilation and daylighting reduces the need for mechanical systems.
– Green infrastructure promotes biodiversity, improves air quality, and lessens the impact of the urban heat island effect by incorporating patios and extensive landscaping. Additionally, these green areas offer treatment and relaxation options for students and teachers.
– Water Conservation: To reduce water use, the School incorporates rainwater harvesting systems and fixtures that use less water. Water-saving initiatives are further aided by effective irrigation systems for green spaces.
Conclusion
The S.L.S Montessori & School was created by Khizer to serve as a leading illustration of an Academic institution that supports students’ well-being, sustainability, and integration with nature. The school provides a healthy environment that equally meets students and teachers’ physical and emotional needs and lessens its environmental impact through smart design solutions, inventive building techniques, and devotion to environmental care.
References:
Articles
- World Architecture Community. (n.d.). Farooq and Associates reveals new school design in Dhamial, Pakistan. [online] Available at: https://worldarchitecture.org/architecture-news/ecncf/farooq-and-associates-reveals-new-school-design-in-dhamial-pakistan.html
- banjaiga.com. (n.d.). | Building Happiness. [online] Available at: https://banjaiga.com/mega-database/Projects/View/Project-SLS/MTc5Nw==
