One look at the Delhi Public School building on Noida Expressway and you wonder if it is the creation of a giant baby stacking blocks. The structure which resembles a tower of blocks, caught mid-tumble helps create a friendly, fun ambience for the young students. The prominent constraint in this project was the constricting area and the task at hand for r+d studio was to maximise efficient use of space.
The result is a structure which houses a swimming pool, a 400-seater auditorium, multipurpose halls, squash courts, a cafeteria and a library within the academic school block. The monochromatic exterior is in stark contrast with the use of vibrant reds and oranges in the interiors. The use of colour in the furniture, floor and the structure is the binding element that ties the building together in a central theme. The plaza surrounding the multi-purpose block pulls the children out to experience the amphitheatre, play areas and the grounds. The swimming pool, auditorium and cafeteria are each accessible through separate entrances, which ensures that the circulation indoors is restricted. For Shikha Doogar, the auditorium is one of her favourite spaces in the building. She says, “There is rawness, a playful quality to it which is very appealing. We were able to generate the wow factor despite working on a stringent budget.� Another interesting element to the building is the peek-a-boo like effect that has been created by cutting out atriums from the building from which one can peep out and look at the courtyard, etc.
Text by Himali Kothari Photographs : Edmund Sumner (Multipurpose block for DPH and Victory Heights, Dubai), Nivedita Gupta (Primera House)
Floor plans of The Multipurpose Block For DPH Home Review October 2016
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