Parivarthan
A proposed Institute for the Sensory Impaired
Abstract
Today, the education for the sensory impaired has become about individual identity development rather than restricted skill training because of advanced technology and sensitivity towards their necessities.
The institutions have an expanded curriculum with interactive learning, tactile signage, sensory cues, sensory gardens, music therapy etc.
The proposal is to provide a training & learning center for visual, speech and hearing-impaired individuals with the primary objective of providing them with empowerment.
Scope of the project
People with disabilities lack equal rights to basic resources such as education, employment, accessibility, socio-economical support systems. Most of them are forced into schools which neither consider their needs nor are designed or equipped for it. In India, it is estimated that there are 3.1 million with disability in seeing, 3 million in hearing and 1.2 million in speech.
Education and disability are the subject matter of research and analysis which have been highly ignored. The amalgamation of both can provide a better system of education which would not require compromises from the disabled to fit into the system. This project aims to provide an example of how design can improve the quality of learning by empathizing with the needs of the students and designing around it. They should be able to enjoy the freedom of spacial mobility to experience the process of learning.
Role & Responsibilities
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Researcher
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Architectural Designer
Tools
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Autocad
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SketchUp
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Photoshop
Duration
1 Semester
(2019)
Team members
Individual Thesis project
for Undergraduate program.
Guided by Prof. S.V. Ravindra
Objective
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To provide a comfortable, safe and supportive learning environment so that they can challenge themselves to grow.
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Plan vocational training centers for the students to prepare them for an independent life.
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Design with great consideration to safety and accessibility to give them the liberty to venture out to every part of the institute.
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Incorporate elements of the outside world to mimic the environment for them to learn in.
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Maintain fine balance in architecture and landscape by making use of the lighting, acoustics and nature for providing sensory clues.
Design Brief
The aim is to bring in the concept of Experience Architecture in the project. The institute should be designed to have a balance in public, semi public and private spaces. The general public are welcome to explore the campus but with restricted access. A museum in the campus would not only act as a point of attraction for visitors but also help in uplifting the students’ talents and enlighten the public to treat them equally in the society.
To allow the students to experience and learn it is very important to prioritize their safety and security. Eliminating distractions by pedestrianizing the majority of the campus so that the students can explore fearlessly, engaging their prevailing senses. The institute will also have clinical and research area which would undertake the responsibility of development and innovation in the field for the benefit of the students.
Define
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Research
Case Study
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Design
Live Case Study
National Association for the Blind, Bangalore
Entrance to the National Association for the Blind
Site Delineation
National Association for the Blind is the center of learning for the visually challenged in Karnataka. The center enable them to live their lives confidently, independently and with dignity through economic rehabilitation. The campus is divided into 3 blocks spread over an area of 3650sqm.
Block A- Administration and educational Block
Block B- Vocational training Block
Block C- Hostels
The floor plans for the blocks can be found here.
All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mysore
All India Institute of Hearing and Speech is an inter-disciplinary research and training institute for the students with hearing and speech impairment. The major objectives of the institute is to impart professional training, render clinical services, conduct research and educate the public on related issues . The campus also has the Administrative, Academic, Clinical, Hostel buildings and the Knowledge park along with a well equipped Library and Information Center.
Live Case Study Comparative Analysis
Site Delineation
Site facing the truck stand
Kodi Kannur Lake in the driest month
Kolar- Chintamani road
Site Information
Zoning
Flow direction in watershed
Ridges and Valley
Site Analysis
The study of the climate, geographical location and surrounding features from the Site information is Site Analysis. The data from the site information can be observed and the entire site can be classified into priority zones- 1st Priority for essential building complexes, 2nd Priority and 3rd Priority.
Site Zoning
Zoning of the site is a preliminary phase of planning of the building positions, circulation and open spaces. Zoning is derived from the results of the Site Analysis. Based on the hierarchy of spaces the zones are allocated. The key spaces in the institute were the Administrative block, Educational Block, Clinical and Research departments, residential blocks and Sensory elements.
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Key Map
Concept
The concept for the design process is to Empower. No individual should loose out on a better quality of life on the basis of physical capabilities. Empowerment comes with independence, when a person is truly independent they feel empowered.
People with disabilities have suffered from social and societal negligence for a very long time. They should have access to education, buildings, transport and opportunities considering their necessities. The educational institutes should strive to remove the barriers in learning for the disabled. Experimental learning process should be inculcated where learning is not just from books but by experiences, utilizing our senses.
The learning process should be flexible to incorporate people from all aspects. Rigidity in design of buildings and furniture should be avoided to allow everyone to participate.
People with disabilities should be encouraged to learn in an engaging environment at their own pace. The students should be trained with basic life skills and vocational skills to become independent and feel empowered.
Site Plan
Architecture
Public Access- Museum , Clinical and Research Block, Administrative Block and Canteen
Limited (Semi-Public) Access- Academic Block, Vocational Training Block, Training Block, Library & Auditorium
Private- Girl's Hostel, Boy's Hostel, Researcher's Hostel, Trainee's Hostel, Guest House, Director's House, Staff House.
Landscape
Gazebos, Pavements with different materials, Gardens, Sit-out areas, Pond, Playgrounds, Gardening areas, Aviary, Flowering plants (sensory clue for visual and smell) and trees. The parking space accommodates 90 two-wheelers and 50 four-wheelers.
Block Plans
01. Academic Block
The idea for the Academic block is to keep the building engaging and packed with sensory clues.
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There are flowers and shrubs of different kinds in the main corridor pockets. These have distinctive smells and color to help with spatial orientation.
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There is also a play of materials for the walls and the flooring for tactile clues.
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The water body along the center spine guides in walking in a straight path.
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The classrooms also have stained glasses on the roof so that when sunlight falls on it the floors have a colorful pattern as a visual clue.
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Every classroom has a unique sensory element in the entrance to act as a signage. It helps the student identify the part of the building they are at.
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The building is a single-storey structure with 13 classrooms- 4 each for lower primary, higher primary and high school students and 1 big nursery classroom. All of these classrooms are placed in a straight order one after the other.
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The administrative part of the building is closer to the entrance which has a Staff room, Parent- Teacher room, Waiting lounge for the parents, Board rooms, Principal and their Secretary's cabins along with a General Office room.
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The other part of the building contains the Labs, Audio visual rooms, Computer room, Braille and Audio Library, Video Library and an Assembly hall.
Sections & Elevations
Details
Chain of shells- Sense of Hearing
Mist Sprinklers - Sense of Touch
Chain of Bells - Sense of Hearing
Wall hanging Plants - Sense of Touch
Sound of Rain- Sense of Hearing
Fiber Optic light curtain- Sense of Sight
Xylophone- Sense of Hearing
Every classroom has a unique sensory element in the entrance to act as a signage. It helps the student identify the part of the building they are at.
02. Administrative & Placement Block
Administrative & Placement block is public area therefore placed closer to the entrance of the campus. It is a two-storey building with a central staircase. The block has a distinctive feature because of its tactile flooring. Since the area is not going to have a regular traffic of sensory impaired students the sensory clues in the building is limited.
Ground Floor Plan
First Floor Plan
Clay tiles-
Flooring near the Placement area.
Wooden Flooring-
Flooring of the office space corridor.
Blistered tiles-
Near the perimeter of the exit points, stairs and cut-outs to make students aware of the change in levels.
The building consists of two zones- Administrative and Placement areas
Administrative- Director's cabin, Principal cabin, Secretary's cabin, General Office, Accounts and Finance rooms, waiting areas.
Placement- Placement Officer's cabin, Interview room and records store.
Sections & Elevations
2 longer sides railings-
Shape- Cylinder Material- Metal
Shape- Triangle Material- Plastic
The cutout space is designed with tactile elements on all 4 sides to help with spacial orientation and Lemon Balm plants for sense of smell.
2 shorter sides railings-
Shape- Sphere Material- Wood
Shape- Square Material- Foam
03. Hostel Block
Hostel Block is a two-storey building with ramp and staircase access. The hostel room has flooring with tactile clues, the vinyl floors with variation in color and pattern. The pathways leading to the units are paved with different colored and patterned ceramic tiles.
The pathways have plants on either sides. Dwarf lemon plants, strawberry plants, cherry plants and guava bonsai. The students can engage their sense of taste. This also teaches them the value of caring and nurturing plants. For privacy the cutouts are planted with bamboo shoots.
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The building has service areas on the ground floor like the Laundry room and Dining area. The common area has a lounge with a reading space. The entrance is guarded by security. The warden's office and room, manager's room and waiting area are in the same floor.
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The first floor of the building has student dorms. 10 rooms with 3 beds in each room. The rooms are grouped in 2 units with corridors.
Sections & Elevations
Details
Entrance with cosy seating space
Box Planters on either sides of the corridor
04. Landscape Elements
Campus Level Emphasis on Sensory Elements
Pedestrian Paths- by providing different pavement material, the visually impaired students can navigate from one space to another. Every material has a unique texture and produces a distinctive sound when tapped with a cane.
Sense of Touch- Textures from walls and floors. Natural elements like water and grass.
Sense of Smell-Plants with strong scent such as jasmine, rose, champak etc when placed in certain intersections of building entrances help with spacial orientation.
Sense of Hearing- The sounds of birds from the aviary, bells and wind chimes produces a characteristic sound.
Sense of Vision- Low vision individuals, hearing and speech impaired individuals rely on visual clues such as bright colors, shadows and light, water bodies and trees.
Sense of Taste- Fruits from fruit bearing trees can help engage the sense of taste in the students.
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Braille boards at every intersection.
Bridge on the water body
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Bell Tower- it rings every hour for students to hear the time.
Similar to Prayer bells. The bells are engraved to feel the texture.
Detail of the pedestrian path adhering to fire safety regulations.
Sensory Park
It is an experience park for the students- a cave with sensory elements and mountaineering.
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Intersections of patterns at the junction.
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Cave
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Mountaineering on 3m high walls for students.
Conclusion
Institute for sensory impaired is not just an institute with aesthetically pleasing buildings and checked requirement list but the need of the hour. The architectural interpretation of the center can be seen as a step towards achieving sensitivity towards all people by fulfilling the educational needs of the students and also help with their emotional, mental, physical, psychological and economical well being
The realization that buildings and spaces are designed excluding the consideration of people with disabilities is inconsiderate and does not reflect well on a society. Education is a means of self reliance therefore people with disabilities should also be able to enjoy the learning process with their surrounding accepting their limitations and providing them with a fair chance at succeeding.