"Dream, Dream, Dream! Conduct these dreams into thoughts, and then transform them into action."
- Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
2 Jan 2024
Sea Lab's Blind School is a unique and one-of-a-kind school for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Gandhinagar. It is a meticulously designed haven for children from remote parts of Gujarat. Initially limited by space, the school transformed with a new academic building featuring ten unique classrooms surrounding a central courtyard. This innovative layout aids sensory navigation, enabling students to map the premises through sound, smell and touch.
What truly sets this institution apart is its ingenious design that caters to multiple senses, enabling seamless navigation and improving the learning experience for its students:
Sight: Elements such as contrasting colors, skylights, and varying light intensities assist those with low vision in distinguishing different spaces, while indirect and filtered lighting minimizes direct sunlight exposure.
Hearing: By employing varied heights and widths in corridors and classrooms, the architecture creates distinct soundscapes, aiding students in identifying specific areas by sound cues.
Smell: Aromatic plants and trees strategically placed in courtyards enrich the sensory experience, aiding navigation through scents.
Touch: The clever use of different textures in flooring and wall finishes, from rough to smooth surfaces, serves as tactile guides for students, helping them navigate and orient themselves within the school's premises.
The flooring predominantly utilizes Kota stone, employing rough surfaces at specific entry points to signify classroom entrances, while smooth surfaces guide through common areas. Walls feature diverse plaster textures, facilitating identification of different sides of corridors and spaces.
Sea Lab's innovative design approach not only caters to the physical infrastructure needs but also integrates sensory elements. This transforms the school into a haven of learning, empowerment, and inclusivity for visually impaired students striving for a brighter future.