Montessori School Library Design at Bangalore, India : Valiant's Academy
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Plot Area: 3,600 Sq.Ft.
Location: Bangalore, Karnataka, India Year: Under Construction. End July 2024 Scope of Work: Interior Design & Construction |
Valiants Academy in Bangalore, an academic institution having more than a decade of experience in imparting education based on Montessori philosophies, envisioned a unique library space to encourage the habit of reading and researching among its students. The Academy provides quality education to more than 200 students, as per the academic year 2024-25, and wishes to imbibe the importance of reading books in its pupils. The design approach was driven by the inspiring philosophies of Sir Ken Robinson who believed in the innate extraordinary capabilities of innovation and creativity of children.
The school rests on a vast 6-acre contoured plot with a built-up area of around 75,000 sq. Ft. A series of steps leads a person to the library room, situated on an intermediate contour level and surrounded by a beautiful garden on one side and a large open courtyard on the other. A double-height space of around 25 Ft provides a welcoming entrance to the students, while the rest of the space, having a height of 11 Ft, encapsules a vast variety of around 15,500 books and comfortable furniture. Visualizing an optimal use of the double-height entrance foyer, we proceeded with the idea of a mezzanine floor with an elevated bookshelf and a seating area for approximately four children to explore a play of levels in the space. Believing in constructing environments that can awaken, develop, and nurture the powers of creativity and the spark of curiosity in children, our design process led to a flow of continuous, free-flowing spaces created by staggering bookshelves that break the typical linearity of the room. Large windows lined up on one side of the library allow abundant natural light and wind to flood the interiors. Exposure to daylight and green outdoor landscapes has a profound effect on the positive physical and emotional growth of children. Keeping this in mind, we focused on creating comfortable seating spaces surrounded by bookshelves near windows to enhance the reading experience of children. A Mangalore-tile sloping roof infuses the mezzanine floor with a good amount of natural light and ventilation. The library hosts an array of captivating spaces, like a librarian’s zone, a digital library section displaying newly arrived books, a common study table area for individual research, a teacher’s research zone, a book repair section for the maintenance of books, and plenty of cozy, quiet reading nooks spread across the entire room. Our planning approach focused on the Montessori philosophy of education that encourages a child to self-explore a space and make an independent choice. A large number of bookshelves sprawled across the library entice children to choose what they want to read and the cozy, comfortable seating spaces provide an enhanced environment for concentrated reading. An interesting corner of the library displays rocks and fossils which are a part of the academic curriculum, while another zone of the library has a large window where steps with wide treads provide a relaxed seating area for interactive storytelling sessions and engrossing discussions. Through the planning and execution of this library, we aim to create more such innovative spaces that can easily invite children to read books and explore the world of literary knowledge. This project gives us an opportunity to enhance the importance of reading and forming a personal opinion in the life of children. After all, knowledge and wisdom form the foundation of a strong, well-read, and independent youth class of the society. Read more articles related to Montessori Education here! |
Rendered Views of Site
Publication of Montessori School Library Project
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