Rural Library / pk_iNCEPTiON

Rural Library / pk_iNCEPTiON - Exterior Photography, BeamRural Library / pk_iNCEPTiON - Exterior Photography, Facade, BeamRural Library / pk_iNCEPTiON - Interior Photography, Arch, ArcadeRural Library / pk_iNCEPTiON - Exterior Photography, ArcadeRural Library / pk_iNCEPTiON - More Images+ 25

Kochargaon, India
  • Architects: pk_iNCEPTiON
  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  108
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2024
  • Photographs
    Photographs:Pranit Bora
  • Lead Architect: Pooja Khairnar
  • Concept Development: Swasti Rangani, Shantanu Tribhuvan
  • Design And Working Drawings: Tanishq Tejnani, Tejaswini Kawale
  • Detailed Drawings: Bhavik Chopada, Shantanu Tribhuvan
  • Models: Shantanu Tribhuvan, Swaroop Sope
  • Graphics And Presentation Drawings: Bhavik Chopada
  • City: Kochargaon
  • Country: India
More SpecsLess Specs
Rural Library / pk_iNCEPTiON - Exterior Photography, Beam
© Pranit Bora

Text description provided by the architects. An NGO, Round Table, is envisioned to provide study rooms for the students of Kochargaon Village. According to their survey, the village sorely lacked facilities for reading and learning, which has adversely affected the literacy rate. The chosen site was an old collapsed Aanganwadi that still had an undisturbed, stable plinth. That became our plot. It is located in the vicinity of the village's main temple complex. The temple has a large covered pavilion (at road level) in front, for all the religious and public events of the community.

Rural Library / pk_iNCEPTiON - Exterior Photography
© Pranit Bora
Rural Library / pk_iNCEPTiON - Image 21 of 30
Plan
Rural Library / pk_iNCEPTiON - Exterior Photography, Facade
© Pranit Bora
Rural Library / pk_iNCEPTiON - Interior Photography, Arch, Arcade
© Pranit Bora

Our site, one meter below road level, is visually and spatially connected to this pavilion and the street. The initial plan focused on constructing two study rooms, one designated for males and the other for females. However, discussions with the NGO and multiple site visits revealed a deeper need to inculcate the importance of education in the community itself. This unspoken directive urged us to design a space that invites and engages all age groups, fostering a love for learning while providing a versatile environment for diverse uses. Thus, we envisioned a library, a reading area, essential study rooms, and a multipurpose space for various educational activities.

Rural Library / pk_iNCEPTiON - Interior Photography, Beam
© Pranit Bora
Rural Library / pk_iNCEPTiON - Image 24 of 30
Section - AA
Rural Library / pk_iNCEPTiON - Exterior Photography, Facade, Beam
© Pranit Bora

The core concept evolved into three covered spaces: two study areas and a book stacking space, concentric to a central court and participatory to all other areas. All these were placed on the existing plinth, and a fourth pavilion was added at the front to create a semi-covered entrance and arrival space for the library. A series of steps guide visitors from the road to a lower level, transformed into an informal gathering space at the entrance. The first pavilion, featuring a generous opening with a load-bearing arch, extends a warm welcome. This covered verandah, intended for newspaper and magazine racks, invites the elderly to read and relax freely.

Rural Library / pk_iNCEPTiON - Exterior Photography, Arcade
© Pranit Bora
Rural Library / pk_iNCEPTiON - Image 30 of 30
Diagram

From this verandah, one enters the central courtyard, which leads to the book stacking area at the front and two reading rooms on either side. These rooms, oriented perpendicular to the temple complex, ensure tranquillity for the students, shielded from public activity noise. They open solely into the courtyard, providing a versatile space as needed. Strategically facing the temple, the book stacking area beckons villagers with visible, colorful book covers from the street and temple pavilion. To enhance visibility, the stacking area remains open towards the courtyard, with two large sliding shutters. These shutters not only reveal the bookshelf but also transform into writable blackboards when closed. This duality allows the courtyard to morph into an outdoor classroom for children, a workshop space for youth, and a night school for the village women, fostering a vibrant educational ecosystem.

Rural Library / pk_iNCEPTiON - Exterior Photography
© Pranit Bora
Rural Library / pk_iNCEPTiON - Image 23 of 30
Plan - Ground floor
Rural Library / pk_iNCEPTiON - Interior Photography, Bedroom, Brick
© Pranit Bora

The design features high-pitched roofs for the study rooms, oriented east-west. This orientation ensures the escape of hot air, seamless cross-ventilation, diffused lighting, and captivating views of the sky and surrounding trees. Being an NGO project, our design needed to be multifunctional, low-maintenance, and cost-effective. This presided over our choice of material and construction method. The entire structure is load-bearing with expansive arched openings.

Rural Library / pk_iNCEPTiON - Exterior Photography
© Pranit Bora
Rural Library / pk_iNCEPTiON - Image 26 of 30
Elevation
Rural Library / pk_iNCEPTiON - Exterior Photography, Facade
© Pranit Bora

The pitched roof was made using corrugated metal sheets and the floor finish was done using locally available stone. Keeping all the prerequisites in mind, we aspired to create a spatial experience that offers tranquility for reading, inclusivity for learning, playfulness for children, and secure book stacking within an open design ethos. These aspirations were realized through the spatial organization of pavilions around a central court, with openings meticulously crafted to optimize light, ventilation, and participatory engagement.  

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Project location

Address:Kochargaon, India

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Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
About this office
Cite: "Rural Library / pk_iNCEPTiON" 13 Sep 2024. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1021093/rural-library-pk-inception> ISSN 0719-8884

© Pranit Bora

乡村图书馆 / pk_iNCEPTiON

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