The new buildings of Lawrence School in Ootacamund were designed by Ponni and Oscar Consessa, a couple of oci architects from Chennai. Their design is commensurate with the school’s illustrious historical history, which spans over a century and three quarters. The guidelines that are established for hill towns are used to govern the building operations that take place in Ootacamund, which is located at an elevation of 7200 feet above mean sea level. In accordance with these standards, buildings are constructed following the contours and bottlenecks of an uneven plot on a flatterrain with the least amount of cuts and fills possible. Because leeward side development decreases gusts of the fast, chilly winds in India, they are built on southern slopes. This allows for maximum sun exposure, which is also facilitated by the location. With its main block and shading devices oriented to maximize daylight penetration and minimize additional heat gain, the new school building is designed to meet these pragmatic requirements. As a result, the building’s artificial lighting and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning loads are significantly reduced. A roof that is sloped and tiled with RC slabs and is hipped on four sides helps provide anchoring, bracing, and continuity, and it also guarantees that drainage is done correctly. It is important to arrange the construction bricks in such a way that no one block will throw a shadow on another. The longitudinal character of the building, which has a ratio of 2.5:1.0, with tiny openings on the longer side and none on the smaller side, contributes to the structure’s seismic stability. The small windows that are symmetrical also help to the structure’s seismic stability. The aesthetics are determined by vernacular architecture, which in turn is determined by the atmospheric conditions, the materials that are readily accessible in the area, the environmental characteristics, and the legacy. The walls are completed with wire-cut bricks, and the edges and corners of the walls are plastered with defined boundaries over the superstructure. For additional stability, the walls may also be reinforced by pilasters. Small courtyards are placed amongst the academic, dormitory, staff-housing, and eating areas that are housed in the main building. The construction mixes in seamlessly with the other buildings that are present on the site. In the heart of a campus that spans 750 acres and contains beautiful woods, there is a 45-acre built-up area that serves as a testament to the sort of lung space that the young brains of the school are gifted with. Students who are studying the sciences, construction arts, and environmental stewardship might benefit from “living labs” such as solar panels for water heating, recycling programs for plastic and glass, and on-site treatment of organic waste via composting and worm farming. a school building that, very literally, sets the standard for others to follow! Indiaartndesign.com has a gallery of photographs of the school; to see them, go here.
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