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Studio A Dvaita, Syngenta Foundation and Snehalaya (NGO) came together to build an agricultural training centre for children of marginalised farmers where they can engage with and learn about the various new agricultural technique through short-term courses.
What is the project about?
Agricultural Training Centre is located in Nimbalak, a remote and marginalised village in Ahmednagar district, India. Syngenta foundation and Snehalaya (NGO) came together to build an agricultural training centre for children of marginalised farmers where they can engage with and learn about the various new agricultural technique through short term courses.
A summary of preliminary observations of the site and its surroundings, as recorded to instil in the observer/reader a sense of the place –
Black rock like a crocodile back has come out &
spread over in scorching afternoon heat.
The single narrow dusty trail was passing by.
A small pond has dried up completely.
Hot, dusty air was blowing under brightly lit afternoon sun.
Factory smoke was making its way to the clear sky at horizon.
A saffron was fluttering on the top of a temple at a distance.
A sudden plight of a black kite for projected prey with long and deep shrill.
Huge Barren plateau with dusty hot air
It was the most desolate and lonely some environment with dry,
pale green and brown landscape.
Two dark men with their pale, bent bodies were working slowly at adjacent brick kiln.
In-between sairat movie song on their phone was being heard.
A bullock cart passed by making dust and rattling sound
Under a babul tree a shepherded in pink turban came with his goats and sat by observing us.
Situated on the barren land with recurring droughts, the design of the building is introverted overlooking a skylit central space. The configuration of the basic square plan with an open space derived from traditional domestic structures or ‘Wadas’ of nearby villages. The external staircase is reinvented from native elements of design in the region, while the building envelope is carefully designed to reduce cost and harmonize with adjacent surrounding structures.
Gray and coloured fly ash bricks are used with a cavity for thermal
insulation in external walls. The internal volume is modulated with natural illumination to minimize dependence on electricity. Classroom white walls lit with natural light, brown kotah stone for flooring and over-detailed interiors are avoided to bring simple dignity of silent architecture. Rough textured plaster and exposed wall surface will give the sense of rural character. Mud pots are inserted while the construction of external walls for birds to stay.
What is the impact?
The main aim behind building the Agricultural Training Centre for the young generation who can learn various new agricultural technique in short duration courses. Also, it is a place for getting information about soil, climate, crops etc for adjacent villagers.
This centre arranges exhibitions of student’s research which can be easily seen by local farmers. So, this building has become an active learning centre for local farmers.
Syngenta, as being a leading company in the agricultural sector, they have formed a platform to bring the best team to better serve farmers around. Also, farmers get to know in this centre about qualitative seeds, crop protection innovations to enhance the prosperity of local farmers.
Gallery:
Images by Studio A Dvaita | © all rights reserved
Technical Drawings:
Drawings by Studio A Dvaita | © all rights reserved
Links to read more:
About Studio A Dvaita:
Led by architect Rasika and Prasad Badave, Studio A dvaita was founded in 2010 in Mumbai and Pune. Rasika trained under Krishna Rao Jaisim Principal architect of Fountainhead in Bangaluru, and worked for 6 years with Sen Kapadia in Mumbai as a senior architect on various institutional and housing projects. Prasad trained under B V Doshi in Ahmedabad and later worked with K T Ravindran in Delhi on institutional projects and Rashtrapati Bhavan museum. Prasad had worked with architect Sen Kapadia and artist Atul Dodia in Mumbai.
With a mutual interest in conservation, heritage, research and publication both worked with INTACH and involved in teaching as a visiting professor to various colleges in Mumbai and Pune. Presently, the studio is actively engaged in various design projects with NGOs throughout India including work on rural development in remote parts of the country. Also currently working on various institutional projects in the Northeast part of India.
