The Rajkumari Ratnavati Girl's School

{"version":"0.3.0","atoms":[],"cards":[],"markups":[],"sections":[[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"An architectural marvel sitting atop the\nsprawling sands of India\u2019s mystic Thar Desert, the Rajkumari Ratnavati Girl\u2019s\nSchool serves nearly 400 young women in a region where female literacy is just\n36%. The school is the first important building in a complex known as the Gyaan\nCenter, which will also include a performance and exhibition space and a\ncooperative where artisans will teach the students\u2019 mothers and other women the\nregion\u2019s weaving and embroidery techniques. The cornerstone of the complex, the\nschool aims to equip young women with tools to advance their education while\nsimultaneously raising awareness around the issues women face in India. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"The complex was commissioned by CITTA,\na nonprofit organization that works to spur development in the world\u2019s most\neconomically challenged and marginalized communities. In this region of India,\nwomen bear the brunt of economic disparities, infanticide, caste\ndiscrimination, and technological barriers, all of which greatly informed the\nproject and the social progress the school hopes to achieve. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"The school\u2019s form is a fantastical oval\nthat blends into the arid landscape and honors ancient building materials and\ntechniques. Its shape is a symbol of femininity and infinity, while the curved\nwalls evoke a famous fort in the region. Local customs were carefully\nconsidered during the design process, most notably India\u2019s tendency to shape\nschools around courtyards to keep the elements out. As an ellipse, the school\noffers plentiful shade for the students in its grand courtyard, but its\nnarrower width also allows a canopy to cover the space during the hottest\nmonths of the year. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Designed to appear as a natural\nextension of the surrounding dunes, the school is a model for sustainable\ndesign that leaves a minimal footprint on the desert ecosystem. The team\nfollowed ancient water harvesting techniques to maximize rainwater and recycle\nthe school\u2019s gray water. The metal framework of the roof\u2019s solar canopy doubles\nas play equipment for the students near a parapet wall that references the\njalis, a traditional screen that offers women privacy. Both elements work\nalongside the ellipse shape to support passive solar cooling in a place where\ntemperatures peak at nearly 120 degrees."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Once the form was selected, the team\nrealized how it resonated as a symbol of femininity and a healing space that\nmakes its students feel held. The forthcoming performance space and cooperative\nwill also have a similar shape. Together, the complex\u2019s series of ellipses\ndemonstrate that even in a remote corner of India, women\u2019s issues can be\namplified to attract attention on a global scale. "]]]]}