“ …. as she stopped writing and looked outside, the slanted shadows on the opposite wall prompted a sigh of relief. Their group assignment finished well before noon with plenty time to spare. It was after the submission however, that she realised that she hadn’t found the need to look at her watch. A semester was all it took to realise that she could tell the time of the day from the angle of the shadows.

Had she learnt something outside the classroom? They studied the sun dial in school but this was the first time she had actually applied it in her life.

That the sun and its shadow can become a lesson for college students, is the work of a carefully designed space. In a university, education cannot be confined to classrooms and textbooks. It spreads far beyond….. “

Scholastic Building III, The Neotia University, West Bengal, India

In the suburbs of Bengal, secluded from the loud bustling city, lies a quiet University campus. Through the Golden Mean gate & past the Mondrian painted administration building; we get our first glimpse of the main academic centre of the campus. Scholastic Building-III of The Neotia University is designed with passive solar techniques to create a humble yet exciting space for learning. It breaks all norms as it stands out spotless white with large terraces and ample green.

The Third Teacher : Buildings nowadays are aiming to be green, earthy and close to nature. Instead what if we make our habitants think green, earthy and close to nature? Embedded in every nook and corner are lessons that a student can learn outside the classrooms. Architecture here plays the role of the third teacher and SB-III yearns to attain the unending limits of a good teacher.

The Sun lounge : A three-level Sun lounge is primary focal point of this academic block. Apart from creating a vast interesting space, it is also provided with a white canvas for the Sun, the third teacher, to create or draw lines on it. One can quickly understand by first-hand experience with nature how the shadows can relate to the time of the day without having to study the sun-dial. As the name suggests, this “lounge” serves a perfect breakout space that is not too far from the classrooms so as to discourage skipping classes. A much needed break does not necessarily mean skipping classes or rushing to the canteen. It is a space designed to celebrate the wonder of nature.

Breaking the Barrier : Our tropical climate with sweltering heat and humidity calls for a desperate intervention by nature. Just like a mobius strip, the external wall of the building twists itself and wraps inside the school building as well. This resulted in spaces that could neither be defined as interior or exterior. We now have shaded spaces away from the harsh sun which are definitely not indoors. Large trees and ample green densely populate all levels including the high ones.

Celebrating Seasons: The different seasons and extreme variation in climate calls for a difference in our activity spaces. An area wide and open will attract us for the warm winter sun during the cold months. But this same space will remain unused throughout out hot and rainy months when we crave shade and respite from the scorching heat. Thus there are different open spaces in different parts of the block.

The sun lounge is a vast expanse perfect for mornings and evenings throughout the year. The rear terrace has perfect cool respites from the sun burn. Many covered terraces are created to enjoy the heavy monsoons with a cup of hot coffee.

The Rain : Various outdoor spaces in the building are so designed that they are rain protected. Thus the students can sit outside and do their studies while enjoying the rains. The concept of rain chain, of Japanese origin, is an attractive alternative to the common unappealing rainwater downspouts. We had chains coming down from the upper terraces and collect the water in rainwater harvesting pools which is then recycled and reused. It not only facilitates water conservation, but is also visible to students to see and be aware. With no hassle of maintenance and being very low cost it is a reminder that elegant and appealing does not to cost much if combined with simple and sensible.

Encouraging Incidental Interaction : One of the many drawbacks of our education system is the restricted interaction amongst different disciplines. The various terraces outside the classrooms create an easy way for cross subject discussions. It provides a refreshing break and prevents over-saturation of one’s own subjects and company. We can encourage creative thinking and mixing of different ideas and passions.

Good architecture is not just about designing a good “building”. It is one of that teaches something that is embedded in one’s surroundings. Architecture here is the third teacher. Just like the unending limits of a good teacher or a favorite book, there isn’t an end to what marvels architecture is capable of. The scholastic building-III at TNU yearns to attain just that. It starts out by warmth that does not resemble dreadful dull boxes that repel students from the onset. It envelops a character that encourages students to wonder at the greatness of nature.