Young Designers 2011

		Young Designers 2011
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Shreya Sharma | shreyaa.sharma@gmail.com

Educational Environments for Children

Exhibition Design | GDPD
Guide: Tanishka Kachru
Sponsor: Prakriti Junior School and Activity Center, Noida

Keywords
2-4 year olds
School
Playground
Classrooms

The brief for my diploma project was to design and develop environments at the campus of a new primary school. The school was scheduled to open in April 2011 and aimed to cater to two- to three-year-olds in its first year. I was tasked to design primarily for this age group although Prakriti’s objective is to become a centre for children and young adults.

My work focused on designing the primary play area for two- to three-year-olds, the reception area and the classrooms. I had to understand the needs and abilities of the children and implement that understanding in designing appropriately and specifically for them. I had to provide opportunities to them to pursue meaningful activities in the natural environment so that they would experience and learn from their surroundings instead of being forced to fit into the already existing norms or classroom curricula.

The playground has been designed, with swings and bridges, to provide opportunities to the children to interact and explore and also spaces for quiet play. The artwork and installations in the building are simple in form and interactive.
Designing for this age group was challenging because I could only assume what the children would see or feel and what they would really absorb and understand. Though I cannot predict with accuracy what will be of interest to them and what will not, I believe they will use the things in the manner they are intended for.