Tucked in the very secluded expanses of Jaisalmer’s Thar desert, lies an oval-shaped ochre-hued building that looks straight out of an artist’s book. The architectural masterpiece comes with a glorious purpose, and that’s woman empowerment. The structure is a school in actuality, designed by New York-based Diana Kellogg Architects and commissioned by US NGO CITTA. The Rajkumari Ratnavati Girls’ School aims to impart education to over 400 girls belonging to the below poverty line population of the remote Thar desert region.
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The Building Has Been Carved Entirely Out Of Local Jaisalmer Sandstone
Everything about the institution is profoundly artistic. The building has been carved by local craftsmen using hand-cut local Jaisalmer sandstone. Thus, even amid the scorching temperatures of the desert, the school remains cool without any air-conditioners. The ochre hue of the building blends beautifully with the surrounding golden sands. Even the school uniforms are unique and traditional, designed by renowned fashion designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee. Students of Rajkumari Ratnavati Girls’ School wear blue kurtis with intricate traditional works on the border and smart violet trousers.
The school will teach girls from kindergarten to standard 10. The website of Diana Kellogg Architects states, “The oval forms were employed to reflect the curvilinear shapes of the local forts and also universal symbols of female strength.”
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The GYAAN Centre For Women Comprising Three Buildings Will Come Up In Rajasthan
The Rajkumari Ratnavati Girls’ School is the first of the three buildings of the upcoming GYAAN Center in Rajasthan, which will comprise two more buildings- The Medha and The Women’s Cooperative. The Medha, a performance and art exhibition centre will have a library and museum. In The Women’s Cooperative, women can learn weaving and embroidery techniques from local artisans.
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Photographer Vinay Panjwani has taken some gorgeous snaps of the Rajkumari Ratnavati Girls’ School. According to a Dezeen report, in a week’s comments section, the school has also been called ‘the greatest architecture’ and ‘project of the year’.