Sana Naeem
Thesis Title:
Re-Imagining the Learning Environment as an Ecosystem through Interstitial Spaces
Project Title:
An Interstitial Ecosystem (Primary School)
Location:
Junaijo Town (along Baloch Colony Road), Karachi
User Group:
School children and surrounding community
With the adoption of traditional factory model of teaching, formal learning environments in Karachi appear as adult-centric authoritarian spaces. The design priorities of this model not only disregards child-centric pedagogy which caters to creativity and will of the child to learn, but remains devoid of notions of empathy for nature. Through re-imagining the school as an ecosystem between biotic and abiotic elements, this thesis creates a series of interstitial spaces that blur the boundaries between study and play, between indoors and outdoors. In doing so, it creates an autonomous innovative environment for children.
Sana Naeem
Architecture
Thesis Title:
Re-Imagining the Learning Environment as an Ecosystem through Interstitial Spaces
Project Title:
An Interstitial Ecosystem (Primary School)
Location:
Junaijo Town (along Baloch Colony Road), Karachi
User Group:
School children and surrounding community
With the adoption of traditional factory model of teaching, formal learning environments in Karachi appear as adult-centric authoritarian spaces. The design priorities of this model not only disregards child-centric pedagogy which caters to creativity and will of the child to learn, but remains devoid of notions of empathy for nature. Through re-imagining the school as an ecosystem between biotic and abiotic elements, this thesis creates a series of interstitial spaces that blur the boundaries between study and play, between indoors and outdoors. In doing so, it creates an autonomous innovative environment for children.
0306-1852212
Plans of the project
Section displaying open air classroom in center of classroom cluster + library/science lab on first floor, showing the transformable nature of the space through movable furniture/blackboards and tables
section showing the vertical and horizontal layers of both clusters as well as the thoroughfare along with interactive music elements juxtaposed beside play areas
view showing the library/science lab on first floor
view showing the visual connection between first floor science lab/library and ground floor open air classroom court between cluster
Module of classroom showing layers of spaces, from main study area to play/study wall to the individual/small group study deck. The image shows how the module changes around the entire school with different types of play walls used also for study.
the movable furniture details, sliding mechanism, folding as well as wheels for the children to have the autonomy to change the space according to their needs.
view showing the transformable nature of the central space in the cluster on the ground floor. Study/gardening activities.
view showing the variation of play wall in the classroom module.
view also showing another variable of the play wall in the classroom module. This one has a wall accessible from the upper deck as well and accommodates sitting / study niches.
view showing the play landscape on the offsets near the cluster, juxtaposed on the thoroughfare.
concept slide showing the nature of the library/science lab space, program is not only a library of books but of natural phenomenon like birds, plants as well.
view of the model
shadow study of the canopies of trees
