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MumbaiSanjivani Girls Home
Offering Hope and Opportunity through Shelter and Education for Girls
For the girls who lived on the streets, a residential school was designed to empower and nurture them in collaboration Voluntary Organization in Community Enterprise (VOICE), an NGO dedicated to educating children whose parents cannot afford to raise them.
VOICE was instrumental in taking the children off the streets and providing them with home by convincing their parents for their better future.
CLIENT
Voluntary Organization Community Enterprise
BUILT-UP AREA
13,000 sq.ft.
SERVICES
Architecture, Interior Design
LOCATION
Mumbai, Maharashtra
SITE AREA
100 Acres
YEAR OF COMPLETION
2006
The purpose was to design a residential school with classrooms and dormitories for 80 children, a cafeteria, a kitchen, a library, a small administrative facility. The project was critical as it was not just for children, but the girl child. Hence the buildings were designed provided a protective environment, with an enclosure and a sense of safety.
Local materials were used to ensure that the children felt a sense of belonging in these buildings and that the buildings reflected their vernacular heritage. The buildings were designed by considering the climatic conditions, construction methodologies, and most importantly the users. These considerations in turn made the structure more sustainable.
"I believe in architecture that enables the users to transcend the boundaries that bind them and elevate their spirit to a higher plane through the spatial experience. This is perhaps the distinction between building and making architecture."
- Brinda Somaya
On this campus, the girls receive education and training in various skills designed to rebuild their self-confidence. This holistic approach not only prepares them for personal and professional success but also empowers them to re-enter society with dignity and a renewed sense of purpose. By equipping them with both academic knowledge and practical skills, the place aims to support their transition into a stable and fulfilling life.
"We have to build for the emotional and physical relationship the users have with our buildings, and this means that we design with a humane ambition."
- Brinda Somaya
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