Article source: SchilderScholte architects

The Dutch foundation Pani commissioned SchilderScholte architects to design an educational building in the north Bengal town of Rajarhat. The architects couple embraced this pro bono assignment coming from ideological motives and knowledge sharing. The building serves as a community centre for folks from the region, aged from toddlers to elder people. During the design process attention was mainly focused on locally available materials and weather conditions. The starting point was to realize a building using materials and skills from within a 15 miles radius around the site. Bamboo, hand-shaped brick, Mango wood, reused steel, local mortar and wafer-thin recycled corrugated panels are the main materials used in the building. The drive was to encourage locals to become aware on the basic principles of sustainability and durable building concepts. In effect close to zero electricity or fossil fuels were used during construction and other necessities required for erecting this building. Thus realizing an environmentally friendly building that contributes to the community in a significant way. The plan (79×105 ft) is East-West oriented and consists of two volumes under a large bamboo roof construction. The classrooms and lavatories are positioned on the South side and on the North side we find the workshop with store. Two sight lines traverse the building in all four directions. The lifting of the roof high above the volumes has achieved a considerable reduction of heat build up within the spaces. Further cooling is provided by cross ventilation, surrounding vegetation and the nearby pond. With the completion of this striking design the architects have proved that conventional local resources and materials can be used to build successful environmentally friendly unconventional architecture.

Image Courtesy © SchilderScholte architects

• Architects: SchilderScholte architects
• Project: PANI community centre
• Location: Rajarhat, Bangladesh
• Design team: Gerrit Schilder, Hill Scholte
• Client: Foundation Pani, Arnhem, the Netherlands
• Structural engineer: PT-structural, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
• Main contractor: MEI, Rajarhat, Bangladesh
• Program: Community centre with classrooms, essembly rooftop, workshop and store
• Floor area: 910 square meter
• Design: November 2012
• Completion: October 2014
• Building costs: €44.000,- (excl. VAT)

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