My First School 1

MY FIRST SCHOOL
BY BIOME ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS.

WHY WAS MY FIRST SCHOOL
FORMED ?
• Vaishnavi and Raja established “My first school” with a zeal to
improve the quality of education in their hometown of
Tiruvanamalai. The school progressed rapidly and needed a larger
campus setup – a place which reflected the philosophy espoused. The
site chosen was on the outskirts of the city and was surrounded by
rice fields and coconut grove. The famous Arunachala Hill of the
town Tiruvannamalai was visible from the land.
• My First School’s brief was to develop a campus for children from
kindergarten to 12th standard.
• Functional typology : Educational Building
• Project Date : 2016 – 2020
• Name Of the Architect : BIOME Environmental Solutions
LOCATION: Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, India
SETTLEMENT TYPE : Rural
APPROX. SITE AREA : 3.5 Acres (14164 sq.m)
BUILT UP AREA : 3103 sq.m
Location on map Site Plan

• On approaching the school it is observed that the designers have made an
effort to make sure that it fits perfectly within its surrounding
landscape and does not overpower it. This is evident through its G+1
structure, use of materials in their primeval form and their colors which
are very similar to the tones of the surrounding landscape. This in itself is SPORTS COMPLEX
a very important lesson to the young minds that we humans are
subordinates to the nature that surrounds us and not its masters.
PHASE 2
PHASE 1 PHASE 3
GARDEN
View of the school from west
WATERBODY
• A phased master plan allows the construction and school to expand as
the current batch of students grow. The First phase is up to grade 8,
including laboratories, library, dining area and administration office
space.
Site Zoning
PHASE-1 PLAN • The entrance of the school
leads one down a corridor
that directs one into
unexpected turns and
spaces. The main motive
of this very peculiar
planning style was to
arouse a sense of curiosity
in the minds of the
children thus encouraging
them to explore their
surroundings and interact
with their peers.
AREAS
CLASSROOM
CORRIDORS
VERTICAL CONNECTIVTY
ENTRANCE FOYER
COURTYARD
GROUND FLOOR FIRST FLOOR PLAN

PLAN
SECTION & ELEVATION A
AREAS
CLASSROOM
CORRIDORS
VERTICAL CONNECTIVTY
B’
ENTRANCE FOYER
B
COURTYARD
SECTION AA’
A’
SECTION BB’
EAST ELEVATION
SOUTH ELEVATION
CLASSROOM
• It can be observed that the floor starting
from the foot of the steps of the entrance
moderates one towards the classrooms
with its bright yellow colour. The colour
of cement flooring has been effectively
used to highlight the function of each
space without the use of any signages.
• Each classroom was uniquely designed to

allow for a different experience every Yellow colour cement flooring
year as the children grow.
• The classrooms are also notionally

divided into two spaces- one is the
learning space (denoted by yellow) and a
smaller secondary space for group
discussions (denoted by the color orange).
While the colour yellow is used to guide
one in and around the classrooms, the
blue flooring along with double heighted Classroom division-yellow & orange space Indoor activity space
ceiling is used to denote indoor activity
spaces.
• It is refreshing to see children run around barefoot across the campus like it was their home as opposed to any other
school where children are taught to polish their shoes and pull up their socks. Similarly even teachers and the other staff
can be seen walking barefoot. This really pays homage to the age old belief of the school being a sanctum of acquiring
knowledge and like one would remove their shoes out of respect and sit on the ground meditating in a temple, the
children are made to learn while sitting on the ground.
• Classrooms are provided with minimal furniture that is made in perfect accordance to their anthropometry and takes up
very little of their learning space.
Children walking barefoot in the campus Classroom with Minimal furniture

• CLIMATE : Semi arid Climate
• Given the Semi-arid climate of Tiruvannamalai, the semi open spaces were a crucial part of the design
requiring shaded play spaces. This shaded play spaces were integrated in the building planning the broad
passages.
• To response to the climate the facade of the building is more porous towards West, letting in constant breeze,
where most of the classroom are thus aligned. Whereas, the Eastern facade is relatively more opaque, with
fewer classroom and laboratory spaces on first floor and admin area on ground floor.
AREAS
CLASSROOM
LABS
ADMIN
GROUND FLOOR FIRST FLOOR PLAN

• The courtyards and other open spaces within
the campus not only act as spaces where
children can play but also help with
evaporative cooling which is very essential for
a semi arid environment like Tiruvannamalai’s.
• Similarly openings within the walls not only

help pressurize the air that enters through them
thus cooling the rooms, they also act as spaces
Courtyard Balconies
that students can occupy and through which
they can interact with students from other
classrooms.
• In a climatic region like that of

Tiruvannamalai’s one would want light to
bring in more illumination rather than heat.
Clearstory windows and skylights are used to
bring in indirect sunlight which illuminates the
Clearstory window
corridors and rooms without the use of
artificial lighting.
Skylights
• Furthermore fins and Jali have been
installed in place of walls to not only
help control the glare but also bring in
cool air.
• Most of the classrooms access a semi

open space which is either a verandah Fins
or a screened balcony. Balconies
connecting classrooms were designed
with angled vertical louvers so as to
minimize glare but allow breeze
through.
• Windows facing the west and north

façade are shaded with vertical and Balconies with angled louvers
horizontal shading devices respectively
to cut off the heat gain and the glare in
the classrooms. Some of these porous
Jali walls between the corridor and the
music room invites the kids to climb
which helps develop their upper body
strength
Windows with Shading devices View from inside the room

• Efficiency and reduce the energy expended throughout and post the construction process. Along with the sustainability
factors of the design they understand that they have a social responsibility to respect as well. According to their “for whom
and where” approach towards designing, it is very important to understand the needs of the client and the community that
they are designing for.
• Thus, this school is a great example of how simplistic and sympathetic designs can help in the early stages of a child's
education and development.

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MY FIRST SCHOOL

BY BIOME ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS.

Location on map Site Plan

View of the school from west

GROUND FLOOR FIRST FLOOR PLAN

• Each classroom was uniquely designed to

• The classrooms are also notionally

Children walking barefoot in the campus Classroom with Minimal furniture

GROUND FLOOR FIRST FLOOR PLAN

• Similarly openings within the walls not only

• In a climatic region like that of

• Most of the classrooms access a semi

• Windows facing the west and north

Windows with Shading devices View from inside the room

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