Kitabgarh

Introduction

This pandemic has shone a light on the thinly veiled socio-economic discrepancies that have always been prevalent in our society. While the privileged have been complaining about the inconveniences that come with working or studying from home, the underprivileged have been fighting for their livelihoods and their lives. A major aspect of this that gets flown underneath the radar is education for the masses. For those who can afford the time and resources required to study online, it is just a slight change in their daily lives that they have to get through until things return to normal, but there are many children across the country whose education suffered massively, whether it’s because they do not have access to the devices necessary to study online, or if they have to stop their studies in order to help out at home. Hence there is an immediate need for such easily available resources in case of unforeseen events that affect everyone.

Concept and Building Elements

The library is an attempt at providing precisely that. It is a multi-functional space with allotted areas for students of all ages from pre-primary to high school, with both offline and online resources. It is intended to be a public reservoir of knowledge, open to all who wish to use it. There are 4 different sections of the library, each containing books pertaining to a certain school level, a primary school section, a middle school section and two sections dedicated to high school, as secondary level education is often neglected in rural areas, and children are forced to drop out before finishing school. There are separate computer labs for the attendance of online classes. There is also a multi-functional space for other activities such as vocational training, with an outdoor terrace area on the first floor. The different sections of the library take the shape of octagons, all around a central courtyard which symbolizes the kind of jaali pattern which is prevalent in the architecture of Rajasthan. Conversely, the windows have jaalis with the pattern of the octagonal profile of each individual library module. These jaalis have a cooling effect due to their small openings, which also helps prevent too much accumulation of dust in the building. This is very useful in an area such as Rajasthan, where the climate is hot and arid, with frequent sandstorms. The courtyard provides a common gathering space, while also having an overall cooling effect on the building through convective ventilation. 

When observed from the front, the roofs of the building are seen at two different levels, creating a cascading hierarchy. The octagonal shape best optimizes the space by providing smaller nooks in each of the corners created. Four of these octagonal units are joined together to create the aforementioned jaali-like floral pattern, and the final form is created by removing the central mass in order to create an open space with bookshelves along each remaining side of the octagons. The modules also resemble the bastions which are a staple of Rajasthan forts, which is another way the building pays homage to the local heritage. 

Materials

Most of the materials used in this project are the locally available vernacular building materials in an attempt to make the project cost effective, environmentally friendly and locally sourced. Lime plaster is used to elevate the interior and exterior walls due to its versatile nature and availability in said region. From the extravagant finishes of the palaces to the humble plasters of the villages, natural materials such as lime plaster is commonly used in Rajasthan. Ranging from the smooth araish finish to a variety of colours of lime paint, these finishes offer a wide range of possibilities. They are skillfully done, are time consuming but last a very long time.

The jaalis, mainly made of wood-plastic composite, are great for adding decorative walling structure and partitioning or wall decoration. These WPC jaalis have a very smooth structure, high strength and supreme durability for long lasting use. It adds a rustic touch and provides a sense of ethnicity along with a sleek and stylish finish.

Modularity and Expansion

The compact modules help make it a design which can be easily recreated in as many locations as necessary with minimal requirements for redesigning in accordance with the respective site location and context. The library itself can be expanded due to the modular nature of the design, since more octagonal modules can be added to the structure utilizing some of the land left unused with the purpose of future expansion. 

Conclusion

Education is a birthright for all, regardless of their background or the circumstances of their birth. Children are a store of immense potential, and if they are not provided with the right channels and opportunities to explore that potential, it is squandered. Therefore a safe space, open to all irrespective of their socio-economic status, with the right materials and resources is a major need of the hour for our society right now, and this library is our attempt at helping uplift those less fortunate than us.