Rajkumari Ratnavati Girls School is a girl's school in the rural Thar Desert of Jaisalmer in the Indian state of Rajasthan. The school is unique in that the architects designed it in the shape of an oval that can withstand temperatures of up to 50 degrees Celsius.[1] The school can accommodate 400 girls from kindergarten to tenth grade. The school is aimed to provide education and training in traditional skill sets such as artistry, weaving, embroidery for women. Rajkumari Ratnavati Girls School is owned and managed by CITTA India,[2] and was designed by Diana Kellogg Architects.[3][4][5][6][7][8] It is on the boundary of Desert National Park, and the city of Sam, Jaisalmer lie close by in the west which is the location of sand dune safaris and resorts.
History
The school is named after "Ratnavati," the Jaisalmer princess. She was the daughter of Maharawal Ratan Singh.[9]
Rajkumari Ratnavati Girls School is located in the rural region surrounding Jaisalmer, near the hamlet of Kanoi. Its architecture is unique and distinctive, featuring an oval-shaped building amidst the desert landscape.[11] The elliptical-shaped structure, angled towards the prevailing winds, is designed to effectively circulate cool air, aligning with the project's ethos. Jaisalmer stonemasons built the school out of precut golden sandstone.
Building material
CITTA India employed traditional methods in the design of the structure, one of which was the application of lime plaster on the interior walls. Lime plaster is a natural, porous material that has a cooling effect. Additionally, a jali wall was added into the design, which is a sandstone grid that promotes acceleration of wind through the Venturi effect.[12]
The school is made of local yellow sandstone that was handcrafted by local artisans. The building is designed in a way that it does not require the use of air conditioning.[13][1]
Building
The school is one of three buildings in the complex known as the "GYAAN Center."
The hall is an area designated for a library and a museum, and a space for performances and art exhibitions for local crafts such as textiles. The women could learn local weaving and embroidery techniques.[14]
^Khanna, Anshu (14 January 2021). "BRIJ RAJ SINGH BHATI: THE KING IS DEAD, LONG LIVE THE KING". The Daily Guardian. Retrieved 22 June 2021. A revolution that had been quietly brewing for the last few years, Gyaan Center is a project of the Citta Foundation, spearheaded by American artist Michael Daube. A marvelous piece of architecture designed by New York-based architect Diana Kellogg and built around a stone structured palace donated by the Jaisalmer royal family, the center houses not just The Rajkumari Ratnavati School for girls but also a women's cooperative that aims to empower the women of the region through craft employment and enhance gender parity in the region. A project wholly supported by Chaitanya and Raseshwari, who even donated the land it is built on, Gyaan Center by Citta Foundation is an architectural marvel. Its oval form is meant to reflect the curvilinear shapes of the local forts and the universal symbols of female strength.
