Eco Factor: Sustainable school building constructed from natural materials.
Group Phi has just finished constructing the first military school for girls in Pune, Maharashtra. The design will be followed in 10 other districts of the state subsequently. The school is the first military school for girls in India and has been built with sustainability as one of the main criteria. The building will provide ample learning space for 720 students and also space for other activities.
The architects worked carefully on the existing topography and vegetation on the site and maximized the use of natural materials like water and stone. The building comes with a gray water recycling system to reuse waste water. The courtyards are covered with polycarbonate sheets, which protect the corridors from rainfall, and by maximizing daylight they also reduce the amount of energy required to illuminate the interiors. The use of natural materials will lower the school’s footprint and also keep the students close to nature.
The Dark Side:
The state of Maharashtra is already battling energy crisis, and it’s high time state authorities take notice of the various renewable electricity generation technologies being used worldwide. Building energy-efficient architecture solves just one purpose, and generating electricity on-site is what architects should now focus on.
