When you think of a school library, you may typically imagine it as a room within the school building with long tables, chairs, bookshelves, and magazine stands. However, what if we told you a school with a separate library building exists? It has ceiling-to-floor length windows instead of traditional walls for ample natural lighting. Inside, round tables foster group reading sessions. Moreover, you can even walk on top of its unique geodesic roof! It is not a library from Fantasyland—it’s the Maya Somaiya Library of the Shri Sharda English Medium School, located in Kopargaon, a small town in Maharashtra.
From the ArchDaily’ Building of the Year’ to the Beazley Award for Architecture, the educational architectural marvel has received many honours over the years. Let’s take a closer look at the library and its impact on students.
Ideas and inspiration: A weigh-in by the school and architects
Shri Sharda English Medium School officials shared the initial vision behind the creation of the Maya Somaiya Library: “Children have an instinctive affinity towards the natural environment than an ordinary building. We imagined an innovative library without beams and columns that allowed students to move freely. We wanted to create a conducive environment for reading, learning, and relaxation.”
Sameep Padora and Associates (sP+A), an architecture firm in Mumbai, was given the responsibility to turn the school’s vision into reality. The architects drew inspiration from various resources to create a children’s library like never before.
During an interview by Dezeen, the studio said, “Alluding to the intuitive impetus that children have towards the landscape, we imagined the library building to be an extension of the ground.” They were also intrigued by the geodesic structures on the school campus. When brainstorming the construction material, they wanted something tactile, considering that they planned to create a structure that was easy to walk on. Kopargoan is hot all year round, so they also needed the material to have insulation properties. Keeping in mind these parameters, they decided to go with bricks.
sP+A explored various types of vaults worldwide and settled upon the Catalan vault, a low brickwork arch structure across the Mediterranean. The work of 19th-century Spanish architect Rafael Guastavino Moreno and mid-20th-century Uruguayan architect Eladio Dieste highly influenced them.
The outcome was a 44-meter vaulted roof with three layers of 32-millimetre-thick brick tiles bonded by mortar. The angular glazed walls ensure enough daylight for library activities. The structure encloses a single room with over 22,000 books, tables, chairs, and other furnishings. The undulating, strong roof invites children, teachers, and staff to walk over it.
How the architectural elements of the Maya Somaiya Library fulfil the needs of users
The Maya Somaiya Library is a striking example of contemporary library design that blends indoor and outdoor architectural elements to cater to the diverse needs of students, teachers, researchers, and other visitors.
Spacious area: Children prefer open areas over congested rooms. When they have space to move freely, they are at ease and can concentrate on the task. The open plan layout of the Maya Somaiya Library with no internal walls makes the space appear larger and more spacious, making it inviting for the little ones.
Natural light: Lighting is a critical component of library architecture. A dingy room with artificial lighting can make the kids irritable, and they may even lose interest in library time. The ceiling-to-floor glass panes ensure the Maya Somaiya Library is flooded with natural light during the daytime. It creates a calming environment, enhances focus, and improves productivity. Students can read, learn, or study in the library for hours without getting distracted.
Pleasant indoor environment: The Maya Somaiya Library is constructed with bricks and mortar that block the sun’s scorching heat, maintaining a comfortable temperature indoors. The choice of material also helps soundproof the library space. Children can enjoy their library time without feeling hot, sweaty, or disturbed by outside noise.
Comfortable and flexible seating: Whether children want a quiet space for focused reading or a collaborative area for studying with peers, the library furniture is flexible, accommodates all seating preferences, and supports diverse activities. The round tables and cushioned stools are designed ergonomically, making them functional and comfortable for school students.
Engaging structure: The Maya Somaiya Library blends with the surrounding landscape, allowing everyone to walk over the building. The unique library architecture creates an engaging, playful, and exciting experience for children and adults alike. The library has multiple entrances accessible from different sides, adding to the interactive appeal. The shaded seating outside the library gives students outdoor space to sit and enjoy downtime.
Inclusive of all users: Besides students, the library provides a quiet, well-lit environment for school teachers, staff, and visitors to work, research, or relax.
Student response to the Maya Somaiya Library
The Maya Somaiya Library is a matter of pride for the Shri Sharda English Medium School students. They are always excited to attend their weekly library periods. Many children even like to spend time there before school starts, during breaks, and after their lectures. Students use the library space to read books, research projects, complete homework, and study for exams.
Beyond school premises: Visitors’ views on the Maya Somaiya Library
Even since its inauguration, the Maya Somaiya Library has attracted students and faculty from various architecture colleges across Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Sambhajinagar, Baramati, Anand, Jaipur, Kollam, Visakhapatnam, Muvattupuzha, and other cities in India. They come to study the architectural masterpiece and leave enriched with immense knowledge and the warm hospitality of the school staff.
A faculty member from Seed: APJ Abdul Kalam School of Environmental Design, Muvattupuzha, expressed their gratitude: “We are very fortunate to have the opportunity to visit the library and study its details. We thank the school for their kindness!”
The team from Dr. Bhanuben Nanavati College of Architecture, Pune, said, “Thanks to the visionary mentor Shri Samir Somaiya Sir for allowing sP+A to take an experimental route for the library architecture. Sameep has done a wonderful job for a task that needed ingenuity and conviction.”
Asst. Prof Deepti Soni Deshmukh from Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University) College of Architecture, Pune, praised the library staff: “The staff communicated with us politely and respectfully. How they maintained the library showed their true dedication and love for the space.”
Future plans for library enhancement and expansion
Shri Sharda English Medium School aims to enhance its existing book collection and add more resourceful material for children to read. Additionally, it wishes to add a residential facility in the school so that students can live on campus and maximise the library.
Leave a Comment