Upper Tibetan Children's Village School Science Lab, India
Upper Tibetan Children’s Village School Science Lab, India
Studio Nyandak is currently designing a new middle school science building for the Upper Tibetan Children's Village (TCV) school in Dharamshala. This multi-phase project includes the demolition of the existing structure and the re-orientation of the new building to accommodate a spacious courtyard that acts as an outdoor theater. The two-story structure accommodates a laboratory, classrooms, and storage spaces.
Its design takes cues from Tibetan architecture and culture. The roof is an articulation of the Dhauladhar mountain range standing behind the science lab building, and its form represents Mount Kailash in Western Tibet, the holiest mountain in Tibet. The monsoon rain is directed down to the open courtyard using downspouts and splash blocks inspired by the Tibetan monasteries in Central Tibet. The walls are made of reused bricks and the Jaali screens form the railing and the theater backdrop.
Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV) is a non-profit educational community dedicated to the care of Tibetan children living in exile. Following his flight to India in 1959, His Holiness the Dalai Lama recognized a critical need for the many children who had been orphaned or separated from their families during their escape from Tibet. Over the next several years, the Tibetan community worked with private donors and the Government of India to establish an educational and residential network for these children. Today, there are TCV locations across India providing a holistic education to over 16,700 Tibetan children. More than half of the Studio Nyandak team are alumni of TCV schools and all of our ongoing projects for the TCV are pro bono.
Project Type
Architectural Design
Structural Engineering
Status
Under Construction
Location
