India transforms Classrooms to Learning Spaces, PM to inaugurate today: Bipin Bhadran the architect guides students on career in the field & education institutes to develop sustainably
India transforms Classrooms to Learning Spaces, PM to inaugurate today
Architect guides students on career in the field & education institutes to develop sustainably
Transforming education from directive learning to independent learning requires the right infrastructure and processes as well. The first such development new campus of Dr BR Ambedkar School of Economics (BASE) University, Bengaluru in the country will be inaugurated by Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi today, i.e. June 20.
This construction and idea was spearheaded by two architects, one of whom is from Indore. The two young architects decode how education institutes have to change in the country to adopt the concept of holistic learning.
With experience of building top institutes in India and other countries including Abu Dhabi University, UAE; Harish High School, Israel; Lake Lisi Secondary School, Georgia; International School of Brussels; Aga Khan Academy, Nairobi; Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science & Technology, Thailand; Texas Tech University, Costa Rica; NSBM University, Srilanka; and Istanbul International Community School, Turkey.
Bipin Bhadran heading Education Design International in an exclusive discussion with us shared how this transformation is coming in education institutes in India with New Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
What is a major challenge in designing education institutes in India?
Bhadran: In India, unlike many other countries, the pace of change is very slow. The majority of educational institutes are still following a conventional system. It is important to understand that the pedagogy of education and spaces of learning must go hand-in-hand which means we must depart from a factory model of classroom-based education. Spaces must be designed according to the needs and age group of the learners instead of a standardised system of classrooms with corridors.
How can you make designing and construction of education institutes today entirely sustainable and eco-friendly?
Bhadran: Maximising the usage of passive techniques and minimizing the dependency on mechanical means of thermal comfort should be the goal.
Although it would be ideal for educational institutes to be designed like communities that grow their own food and produce their own electricity, even the smaller initiatives like use of local materials and construction techniques having a low carbon footprint can go a long way in transforming the status quo.
For an example, we have used hollow block walls, prefab construction and recyclable materials in the Strate school of Design.
The design included the existing trees and made sure that none of them was damaged during the construction process.
Another major sustainability consideration in the Indian context would be to reuse the existing school buildings and convert them into 21st century leaning communities instead of building new ones.
How can students charter their career in the field of architecture?
Bhadran: Students must explore their areas of interests by taking up various internships in the fields with newer innovations and a lot of scope in the present and in the times to come. Parametric architecture, green buildings, BIM, visual graphics, interior architecture, academics, set design etc to name a few.
How can government education institutes be re-designed to empower education?
Bhadran: In India, the government institutes are still following the 20th century system of education. The focus is on rote learning with grades and ranks as the ultimate goal instead of actually enhancing your learning experience& encouraging students to be lifelong learners.
For a sustainable transformation, the existing government institutes should be revamped to better equip them for 21st century learning. Project based learning and skill development should take the centre stage and spaces should be modified accordingly.
What’s the Indian Mantra for architecture and how can you inculcate it in today’s world?
Bhadran: Indian mantra for architecture should be ‘going back to the roots’. Ancient Indian architecture has always been eco-friendly, user sensitive and sustainable. The application of vernacular architecture must be maximised, as per the climate and the context, instead of blind imitation of western elements like glass facades.
The ancient Indian gurukul system was the most authentic way of ‘learning by doing’ where students lived in small communities and experiential learning was a way of life instead of a specialised learning modality.
What are upcoming technological advancements, Artificial Intelligence, Augmented Reality, etc. in the field of Architecture?
Bhadran: In the field of architecture, 3D printing is a very innovative tool to get past some of the limitations that architects face. Sustainable construction technologies, data driven designs, more elaborate usage of BIM etc can bring about the much needed change.
How are educational institutes designed differently in India and across the world?
Bhadran: India is still struggling to get past the ‘cells and bells’ model of school education which many other countries have abandoned for being redundant and obsolete.
The massive change is on its way as the existing model seems to be falling apart but a complete transformation still seems to be a distant dream. Although the fundamental principles of NEP 2020 provide guidelines for the creation of learning environments that are experiential, creative and collaborative, their implementation is currently nowhere to be seen.
Architect guides students on career in the field & education institutes to develop sustainably
Transforming education from directive learning to independent learning requires the right infrastructure and processes as well. The first such development new campus of Dr BR Ambedkar School of Economics (BASE) University, Bengaluru in the country will be inaugurated by Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi today, i.e. June 20.
This construction and idea was spearheaded by two architects, one of whom is from Indore. The two young architects decode how education institutes have to change in the country to adopt the concept of holistic learning.
With experience of building top institutes in India and other countries including Abu Dhabi University, UAE; Harish High School, Israel; Lake Lisi Secondary School, Georgia; International School of Brussels; Aga Khan Academy, Nairobi; Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science & Technology, Thailand; Texas Tech University, Costa Rica; NSBM University, Srilanka; and Istanbul International Community School, Turkey.
Bipin Bhadran heading Education Design International in an exclusive discussion with us shared how this transformation is coming in education institutes in India with New Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
What is a major challenge in designing education institutes in India?
Bhadran: In India, unlike many other countries, the pace of change is very slow. The majority of educational institutes are still following a conventional system. It is important to understand that the pedagogy of education and spaces of learning must go hand-in-hand which means we must depart from a factory model of classroom-based education. Spaces must be designed according to the needs and age group of the learners instead of a standardised system of classrooms with corridors.
How can you make designing and construction of education institutes today entirely sustainable and eco-friendly?
Bhadran: Maximising the usage of passive techniques and minimizing the dependency on mechanical means of thermal comfort should be the goal.
Although it would be ideal for educational institutes to be designed like communities that grow their own food and produce their own electricity, even the smaller initiatives like use of local materials and construction techniques having a low carbon footprint can go a long way in transforming the status quo.
For an example, we have used hollow block walls, prefab construction and recyclable materials in the Strate school of Design.
The design included the existing trees and made sure that none of them was damaged during the construction process.
Another major sustainability consideration in the Indian context would be to reuse the existing school buildings and convert them into 21st century leaning communities instead of building new ones.
How can students charter their career in the field of architecture?
Bhadran: Students must explore their areas of interests by taking up various internships in the fields with newer innovations and a lot of scope in the present and in the times to come. Parametric architecture, green buildings, BIM, visual graphics, interior architecture, academics, set design etc to name a few.
How can government education institutes be re-designed to empower education?
Bhadran: In India, the government institutes are still following the 20th century system of education. The focus is on rote learning with grades and ranks as the ultimate goal instead of actually enhancing your learning experience& encouraging students to be lifelong learners.
For a sustainable transformation, the existing government institutes should be revamped to better equip them for 21st century learning. Project based learning and skill development should take the centre stage and spaces should be modified accordingly.
What’s the Indian Mantra for architecture and how can you inculcate it in today’s world?
Bhadran: Indian mantra for architecture should be ‘going back to the roots’. Ancient Indian architecture has always been eco-friendly, user sensitive and sustainable. The application of vernacular architecture must be maximised, as per the climate and the context, instead of blind imitation of western elements like glass facades.
The ancient Indian gurukul system was the most authentic way of ‘learning by doing’ where students lived in small communities and experiential learning was a way of life instead of a specialised learning modality.
What are upcoming technological advancements, Artificial Intelligence, Augmented Reality, etc. in the field of Architecture?
Bhadran: In the field of architecture, 3D printing is a very innovative tool to get past some of the limitations that architects face. Sustainable construction technologies, data driven designs, more elaborate usage of BIM etc can bring about the much needed change.
How are educational institutes designed differently in India and across the world?
Bhadran: India is still struggling to get past the ‘cells and bells’ model of school education which many other countries have abandoned for being redundant and obsolete.
The massive change is on its way as the existing model seems to be falling apart but a complete transformation still seems to be a distant dream. Although the fundamental principles of NEP 2020 provide guidelines for the creation of learning environments that are experiential, creative and collaborative, their implementation is currently nowhere to be seen.