Instilling Sustainable Ideas Through the Design of Educational Environment

ARCH201 ARCHITECTURE DESIGN II FALL 2011/2012

KINDERGARTEN:

INSTILLING SUSTAINABLE IDEAS THROUGH THE DESIGN OF EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT

ASSOC PROF DR NOOR HANITA ABDUL MAJID INTRODUCTION

Human learn the most at early ages, hence instilling the best values in them should start at home and first formal education such as kindergarten or nursery schools or playschool or pre-school. It is at the kindergarten that a child learns to communicate, play, and interact with others appropriately. At a kindergarten, teachers provide various materials and activities to motivate these children to learn the language and vocabulary of reading, mathematics, and science, as well as that of music, art, and social behaviors.

In this design project, the students are to look at the architectural and interior solutions to provide an interactive and conducive learning environment for children between 4-7 years of age. The focus of the design challenge is to give the students a relevant, holistic, green education in a given environment in the context of Oman. The students are encouraged to understand the Omani environmental and cultural context in order to produce designs that support the ideas and training of sustainability. The kindergarten is focused on helping children learn more about sustainable living while also providing them with the skills they need to enter the academic institution of their choice. Sustainability has been chosen as a focus since the concept upholds the teachings of Islam. The holistic view of knowledge is important in nurturing Islamic understanding at an early age.

“We want to create future green leaders – we need green leaders,” “We want to teach kids that the world is not indestructible.”

(Hardy: New York Times article).

THE SITE

The Kindergarten includes spaces for 40 children and 10 staff. The area is located at the street edge of urban development, in a date farm. Natural environment is calculated to evaluate specialized to preserve the landscape in the area. The purpose of the project is targeting the expression on the subject of architectural sustainability. This value is found in all good relationships with the surrounding environment. Beginning of the project-oriented architecture is a manifestation of this point and the main theme is to transfer of sustainable values to all children through the design and environment. Hence, the students should look at solutions that:

1. Relates well with the natural surrounding;

2. Welcome natural energy: Meet the daily needs through the pursuit of natural resources: use of daylighting, natural ventilation and water re-cycling (i.e. rain water will be contained in the special containers, used for watering the plants and waste water in the bathroom; and 3. Colors, materials, design the shape of space has been thoroughly researched and used in the construction are in line with sustainability.

“Every experience the children have here is about how to live with only a minimal impact on the environment.”

THE FACILITY

The facility should be designed to cater teaching the following materials:

 The essential subjects of pre-school English, Mathematics and Science – recognizing the importance of continuity and progression.

 Creative Arts – embracing Art, Crafts, Music, Drama, Story-telling, and so much more.

 Green Studies – hands – on study which evolves from Nature Study to Study of Ecology to Environment Studies to Studies of Sustainability.

The students are to design for the following facilities:

No Space Description Size (m2) 1 Entrance and reception For parents and children 1 x 30 Entrance area should be welcoming but secured Storage cubicles for individual children 2 Office Administration for the 1 x 25 kindergarten and teachers room 3 Resource center Library and reading room 1 x 30 Store Storage of curriculum materials, 1 x 20 supplies, books, A/V 4 Classrooms Classrooms for different age 3 x 80 groups 5 Indoor Play/ Gathering Indoor play during bad weather 1 x 60 area and place for social events Active and quiet areas 100 Outdoor play area 6 Toilet Toilets near the classroom (2 According cubicles M/F) for each classroom to stds and general for staff (4 cubicles M/F) 7 Kitchen For preparation of snacks and 1 x 25 light meals 8 Isolation area For sick children 1 x 5 Should be equipped with cot for resting 9 Additional Specialize 1 x 80 Educational Area TOTAL Approx. 500-600m2

ASSESSMENT:

Overall Duratio Weightag No Descriptions Weightag Remark n e e 1 Research (Case/Precedence 4 weeks 10% 10% Group Studies & Site Analysis) 2 Minor Project 1 week 10% 10% Group 3 Main Project 11 weeks 20% Crit 1: Initial Scheme 20% Crit 2: Final Scheme 40% 80% Individual Final Project Presentation TOTAL 100% IMPORTANT NOTES  Students with incomplete works, absent from critique sessions and make no submission without any acceptable reasons, shall fail the design project. No appeal will be entertained.  All students are required to submit a process book (butterpaper A3 size) and a CD containing the complete works at the end of the semester. THE SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS: a) Research (Case/Precedence Studies & Site Analysis and Synthesis):

1. A4 report 2. A1 presentation boards 3. Multimedia presentation (max. 15 min.) 4. Scale site model b) Minor Project 1. A1 presentation boards c) MAIN PROJECT

Crit 1:Initial Scheme A1 format 1. Site Synthesis and Precedent Studies 2. Design concept (Canvas Painting) 3. Design Development (site planning, building plans and ideas for building forms) 4. Mock-up model 5. Graphic and Verbal Communication

Crit 2: Final Scheme A1 format 1. Development of ideas 2. Plans, Elevations, Sections 3. Details 4. Technical Development (considerations of structure/ construction methods) 5. Graphic and verbal communications 6. Model

Final Project Presentation a) Drawings: 1. Plans-location, site and building plans 2. Elevations (4 nos) 3. Section (2 nos) 4. Sectional Detail / Sectional Perspective 5. Perspectives (exterior 2 nos and interior 2 nos) 6. Services drawings (diagrammatic layout of basic services) b) Scale Model c) Design Process