Architects Without Frontiers | Australia

Project Summary || Bholu 1 | Bholu 2 | Bholu 3 | Bholu 4 | Bholu 5 | Bholu 6 | Bholu 7 | Bholu 8 | Bholu 9

Download: Bholu 3 Plans

Bholu 3 was a new anganwadi constructed on a piece of land within the Tekra community close to Manav Sadhna. The land was donated by local ’maji‘ Nanuma with the wish that the school be constructed on the property beside her own dwelling so that the children would learn and grow around her.

The site was quite long, but bordered closely on both sides by neighbouring houses which we were to be considered and respected in the design. Apart from site/neighbour considerations there was basically a blank slate to create a new building for the children. A significant amount of time was spent liaising with the teachers, Manav Sadhna and Nanuma in order to design a building which would best suit the community needs.

Although AWF is in India to help guide design and construction and to give of what we know, much of what we are doing is also learning. Learning how to construct differently, to accommodate different needs, different weather conditions, different social conditions and different usage patterns. It is definitely a two-way street of information and knowledge, which makes the process so much richer.

The design of Bholu 3 was to be a single room structure with sufficient light, air and amenity for the preschool classes. It was constructed from leftover ash bricks (from the community centre), recycled and found timber windows and doors and fibre cement corrugated roof. Special effort was made to provide outdoor courtyard spaces for play and relaxation all year round. These areas were enhanced with mosaic tile works and hand painting. The bathroom space was also upgraded and altered to provide extra storage space and privacy. All of the walls within the property were repainted and educational messages were drawn on the insides of the classroom walls. The children themselves were encouraged to help paint and decorate their own space, particularly the central tree on entry, adding to their sense of ownership and connection to their new building.

Project Summary || Bholu 1 | Bholu 2 | Bholu 3 | Bholu 4 | Bholu 5 | Bholu 6 | Bholu 7 | Bholu 8 | Bholu 9

Download: Bholu 4 Plans

Bholu 4 was a renovation of an existing and functioning anganwadi. The site location of this anganwadi was quite beautiful - facing onto an open, vegetated community courtyard space with views to the Sabarmati river. However, the existing structure was dark, poorly ventilated and did not have toilet facilities.

The idea for this design was to extend the existing building toward the community space and raise the roof. Extra ventilation grilles (constructed by the builder) were then to be added in the tops of the higher walls and windows were to be placed in the extension for additional light and air. At the front of the plot a new washroom, toilet and bench entry seat were provided.

Due to the close quarters of the residences, the neighbouring dwellings did dictate a large extent of the work we did and where windows and grilles were placed.

Although only fairly simple changes were able to be made, they had a big effect on the usefulness and usability of the space. With its increased size the new building will now also be used as a public meeting space to provide extra amenity to the people who live within the community. The building has been painted to fit in with the colour scheme of the neighbourhood, with a little bit of extra fun and colour to provide a spring-like garden space for the children to play around.