Children’s Nature Retreat, New Delhi, India

Site Plan. Children's Retreat, New Delhi, India. 1996.
Site Plan. Children’s Retreat, New Delhi, India. 1996.
Overview. Children's Retreat, New Delhi, India. 1996.
Overview. Children’s Retreat, New Delhi, India. 1996.

Project Architect:
Aditi Raychoudhury (1994-1996) for Gautam Bhatia Navin Gupta Architects (formerly The Architecture Alliance), New Delhi, India.

Client:
The Indian Council of Child Welfare.

Published:
‘10×10′, Phaidon Press, 2000, and ‘10×10_2′, Phaidon Press, 2005.

The project was to develop a retreat on the outskirts of New Delhi, India for underprivileged children. The purpose of the retreat was to encourage informal learning and recreation in a natural setting.

The project was envisioned primarily as a natural sanctuary where the architecture was ancillary to, and blended in with the landscape.

Overview. Children's Retreat, New Delhi, India. 1996.
Overview. Children’s Retreat, New Delhi, India. 1996.
Dormitory Cluster. Children's Retreat, New Delhi, India. 1996.
Dormitory Cluster. Children’s Retreat, New Delhi, India. 1996.
Dormitory Cluster. Children's Retreat, New Delhi, India. 1996.
Dormitory Cluster. Children’s Retreat, New Delhi, India. 1996.
Covered Patio of Dormitory Cluster. Children's Retreat, New Delhi, India. 1996.
Covered Patio of Dormitory Cluster. Children’s Retreat, New Delhi, India. 1996.
Children's Retreat, New Delhi, India. 1996.
Children’s Retreat, New Delhi, India. 1996.
Detail. Children's Retreat, New Delhi, India. 1996.
Detail. Children’s Retreat, New Delhi, India. 1996.

Natural clearings and gentle slopes in this densely wooded and undulating site were chosen to locate small clusters of dormitories and mini-amphitheaters that used the slopes to form a lecture-hall style informal, outdoor classroom. The orientation of these clusters was determined by the lake for views and cool local breezes.

In addition, a dining hall and the administrative building mark the entrance to the retreat and enclose a terraced plaza, that formalized the natural landscape into a series of terraces and steps to form a stimulating environment for games and learning.

A large Greek-style amphitheater was set in a natural bowl for performances.

A combination of local bricks and random rubble masonry was used as the building material.

2 Comments

  1. hello!
    the place seems so fascinating.
    i really feel like going there.
    but, where is it?
    please help me!
    thanks!
    tanya
    🙂

    Like

    1. Hi Tanya,

      This place is outside Delhi on the Gurgaon side. You can contact the Indian Council of Child Welfare to get the exact address and directions. Good luck. Thanks for checking out my blog.

      aditi

      Like

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