The Rajkumari Ratnavati Girls’ School, situated in the Thar desert near Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, maintains a temperature 20-30 degrees Fahrenheit lower than the outdoor surroundings. The innovative design, conceived by New York-based architect Diana Kellogg, utilizes local sandstone and distinctive architectural elements. This school, which focuses on empowering girls, has received numerous accolades for its creative approach to sustainability and innovation. Architectural Digest India honored it as the Building of the Year in 2020.
Diana Kellogg explained that she incorporated oval shapes into the design to mirror the curvilinear forms seen in local forts and to symbolize female strength on a broader scale.
The initiative was undertaken by CITTA, a non-profit organization based in the United States that provides economic and educational assistance to women in remote and marginalized communities. According to CNN, this school represents the initial phase of a larger architectural endeavor that encompasses a women’s cooperative center and an exhibition space.
Drawing inspiration from her 2014 visit to Rajasthan, Diana Kellogg, primarily recognized for her upscale residential projects, felt compelled to construct a structure that embodies the optimism and resilience of the desert landscape. She combined traditional architectural techniques with modern design elements, leveraging time-tested cooling methods to create a harmonious blend that effectively cools the interior spaces.
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