New School For GVET

IN THE SUMMER SEMESTER 2025, THE LIECHTENSTEIN SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE (LSA) LAUNCHES AN ADVANCED DESIGN STUDIO IN COLLABORATION WITH THE GANGA VALLEY EDUCATIONAL TRUST (GVET) IN UTTARAKHAND, INDIA. THE PROJECT CHALLENGED US TO DEVELOP CREATIVE, CLIMATE-RESPONSIVE, AND COMMUNITY-DRIVEN PROPOSALS FOR A NEW BOARDING SCHOOL IN THE REMOTE HIMALAYAN VILLAGE OF SINGUNI, EMPHASIZING LOCAL RESOURCES, INCREMENTAL CONSTRUCTION, AND VERNACULAR KNOWLEDGE.

IN THE SINGUNI SCHOOL PROJECT, I FOLLOW AN EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY THAT VALUES FREEDOM OVER CONTROL. LEARNING SHOULD SPARK CURIOSITY, SUPPORT PERSONAL GROWTH, AND NURTURE A SENSE OF SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, IN A WAY THAT FEELS NATURAL AND JOYFUL. A SCHOOL SHOULD BE A PLACE WHERE CHILDREN WANT TO BE, NOT WHERE THEY FEEL THEY HAVE TO GO.

AS AN ARCHITECT, THE GOAL IS TO CREATE SPACES THAT SPARK CURIOSITY AND FEEL ALIVE. FOR CHILDREN, A ROOM CAN BE SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST A PLACE. IT CAN BE A WORLD TO EXPLORE, A QUIET CORNER TO RETREAT TO, OR A STAGE FOR IMAGINATION. WHAT MAKES A SPACE EXCITING IS DEEPLY PERSONAL, BUT OFTEN IT’S THE LITTLE BREAKS FROM THE NORM, THE UNEXPECTED TWISTS, PLAYFUL DETAILS, OR SOFTER EDGES THAT MAKE IT MEMORABLE. AT THE SAME TIME, STRUCTURE AND CLARITY ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT. THEY GIVE A SPACE ITS RHYTHM AND HELP IT FUNCTION. IT’S THAT BALANCE BETWEEN SURPRISE AND STRUCTURE THAT MAKES A SPACE TRULY WORK — ESPECIALLY FOR GROWING MINDS.

"TO MANAGE THE CHALLENGING TOPOGRAPHIES OF UTTARAKHAND AND ESTABLISH ORDER, I SET UP A GRID FOR MYSELF, BUT AT SOME POINT, I LET GO OF THE ARCHITECT'S ROLE AND BECAME A CHILD, PLAYFULLY BREAKING FREE FROM IT."

THIS PROJECT WAS SUPPORTED BY PROF. DR. LINDSAY HOWE AND DANIEL HASELSBERGER.

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