The brief is to design a Mixed use Built space comprising of Learning center, Exhibition space, Admin, dormitory zone and Food Zone along with Workshop. Elements to be considered are Spatial quality, Vaastu, Functionality and Movement From one block to another.

TVS PATASHALA was a corporate social responsibility program that aimed to establish a skill development Centre for automobile workers from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, with an aim to create job prospects. Located around 40km from the main city Chennai, India the local context was mostly an industrial zone where students will gain work experience.

The basic requirement from and administrative perspective was to have class rooms and workshops, but given the new age of learning and showcasing every space was designed with the prospect for more interaction, and exhibition as well as spaces to develop new design models. These works of art would be shown at the innovation Centre. Auxiliary facilities such as dorms and a cafeteria were also created for the students' convenience.

Also, considering on the local meteorological environment and establishing the institution's spatial quality, the designs also focused on lowering the building's carbon footprint using clay blocks, jail works, and alternative construction techniques such as refurbished containers.

The site was zoned into categories based on how they used time and space. Smaller spaces such as those made from the remodelled containers, functioned as the information desk and the director's room. The central part of the site zoned to house classrooms were arranged around a central courtyard with a tree for cross ventilation, a well shaded spillout space.

Furthermore, these classrooms are meticulously constructed with exposed brick and prison, which plays with the solid and void exteriors to allow indirect light to distribute within the structure. Using such materials lowers the temperature indoors during most of the year in the predominantly hot climatic area.

While the classrooms were designed spaces, the cafeteria was a spillover space from the classrooms that looked out over a semi-open roof. Workstations are two-level constructions where students get hands-on experience working in real time, allowing them to create new models.

Team:

Architects: MTA Architects
Engineering: MTA Architects 
Landscape: MTA Architects
Design Team: B. Ramesh , Uma Shankar , Raju .B , Sarada Krishnamurthy 
Digital illustrations: The Post . Studio
Photography: Sreenag