Location At an altitude of 3,500 meters and only accessible for six months of the year, the Leh Valley

At an altitude of 3,500 meters and only accessible for six months of the year, the Leh Valley in Ladakh is about as remote as it gets. Designing and working
with the Drukpa Trust, a UK registered charity under the patronage of Dalai Lama to create a place of cultural learning since 1997- the Druk White Lotus
Valley in Ladakh is a proud venture of the international design firm Arup Associates. The school opened in 2001 and now has over 840 pupils and 350
• Shey, Leh Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir 194101, India residential accommodation spaces. This fundamentally sustainable centre has become a focal point of culture and communication for the whole region.
• Coordinates : 34°08′43.43″N 77°34′03.41″E
• Altitude : 3500m Summer Breeze
•
•
Nearest Airport : Leh Military Airport (16 KM.)
Nearest Train Station : Pathankot
Winter Breeze Background and Context
• Nearest Bus Station : Manali and Jammu And Kashmir
· The schools aim is to give children from this remote part of India a high-quality, modern education, whilst engaging
with local cultures or traditions and to create a structure that would celebrate and enhance local values, while at the
same time making the most of cutting-edge technology and construction methods from the West.
· Inherent to this vision were concerns of importing a no energy solution, maximizing solar potential of the desert, supply
and treatment of water on site and so on so forth.
· Following a two year study, was realized modern concrete construction as unsuited for the site where climatic and
seismic activities recorded was comparable to that of California. The first phase was completed under budget and within
acceptable local cost meters and efforts was made to further optimize the resources of the Trust.

Wind Flow Analysis Modern School, Ancient Traditions

· Designed to be built in stages, the plan for the school included teaching
courtyards, dining hall and kitchen, computer and science labs, art studios, a
medical clinic and accommodation for staff and pupils.
Historical Background · It is all designed around the circular mandala form, an ancient Indian symbol
of wholeness and the ultimate model for organization.
· Set in the Indian Himalayas on the western edge of the Tibetan plateau, and · Combining the concept of Mandala and Key the school became the junction of
defined by the River Indus, which runs along the Leh Valley at an altitude of education & spirituality.
3,700 meters.
· It was incorporated into Jammu and Kashmir in 1842.
· After the partition of India in 1947, the region passed first to Pakistan and
then to India.
· The region was divided into Kargil and Leh districts in 1979.
· Following demands for autonomy from the Kashmiri-dominated state
government, the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council was created
in 1993. The Gyalwang Drukpa

Culture
· Ladakh is a 2000 year old kingdom where Buddhism is the dominant
religion, often referred to as ‘Little Tibet.
· People have practiced traditional subsistence agriculture for centuries and
prospered despite the adverse conditions.
· A social structure based on mutual cooperation , reciprocity and social cohesion
combined with an intimate working connection with their landscape gives rise to
a prosperous and happy society
· Living in a harmonious balance with their environment, the Ladakhis never
exceeded the carrying capacity of land. There was no concept of waste or
pollution, everything had a purpose and place.
Thus, combining the concept of the Mandala and the
The basic form of Mandala, the Buddhist spirtual The Mandala has been an integral part in key, the Druk Padma Karpo school becomes a
Local Architectural Character symbol, is a square grid representing the sacred the planning of monasteries in Ladakh. seamless junction, where education and spirituality
space secured by protective walls Hence, their sacred spaces are woven into come together to create a tranquil atmosphere
· Houses and monasteries (gompa) are built on elevated south-facing sites using the heart of this nine-square grid well-tuned for a child's development
a combination of stone, wood and earth (mud brick). Solar Analysis
· The traditional vernacular is characterized by glazed windows divided into
small panes.
· Wooden decorations appear at the lintel level above windows and doors, as
well as at the eaves level below the gutter.
· Architecture varies in religious structures for different communities, but

·
residential architecture remains the same.
New buildings are mostly reinforced concrete structures.
Orientation
Academic Block Residential Block
· For energy efficiency, the buildings are designed to take maximum
advantage of the sun, taking into account the unique solar
Conceptual Blocks showing wind flow on each block potential of the high-altitude environment.
· The buildings in the daytime teaching area are turned 30° from
Academic Block the south towards the east to benefit from the morning sun.
· All other buildings face south, so as to maximize solar benefit
Residential Block throughout the day and store heat for evening and night-time use.

Early morning Post noon position

position of the Sun of the Sun
Conceptual Blocks showing alignment of individual block

CASE STUDY - THE DRUK WHITE LOTUS SCHOOL Hasan K. Taha B.

 Timber framed double glazing High thermal mass
with opening lights for walls with 100mm air
ventilation gap
Timber Solar Traditional roof
Shading Device construction
Summer Sun

Winter Sun
Typical Classroom Low level opening for cross
ventilation and views

The spaces have been designed in a manner

where a child envisages through a transition
of spaces from the closed interior classrooms
Detailed section through southern block of
to the lobby and the open air courtyards
nursery and infants courtyard

Shapes

Spread out massing helps in better wind The simple building techniques used mean
movement and solar heat gain that children will easily understand how
the school was constructed which adds a
level of richness to the scheme.

Axis
· Play of built and unbuilt across
the entire plot
· Rejuvenating intrigue
· Making a person to explore
Senior
Block · Everyblock has a verandah
allowing the penetration of the
Infant sunlight and habitable spaces
tucked behind them, allowing a
Block Amphitheatre seamless visual connect all
through the spaces

· The central circular spaces acts

as a unique element of surprise
in the otherwise linear form of
Laboratories the complex , taking one into an
intimate congregation space
Junior · In the form of an amphitheatre,
there is a zone of peace ,
Block disconnecting ones mind from
the immediate outside world
The movement through the complex is enhanced by the subtle change of levels. This allows a new perception of the same space by creating different vantage points of connectivity.
Zoning

CASE STUDY - THE DRUK WHITE LOTUS SCHOOL Hasan K. Taha B.

 Summer Day Time
Section through Typical Classroom of infamt block explaining the Passive Solar Techniques
The sloping site has been best utilised for water supply for the site by means of
gravity filed system. Solar pumps are used to propel water from the borewells to the
water tanks situated at the highest level
The latrine system (toilet) is double chambered with an integrated solar chimney
eliminating any parasites and odour problems. The manure produced is eventually
used as fertilizer
CASE STUDY - THE DRUK WHITE LOTUS SCHOOL
Winter Day Time
Exploded view of a Typical Conceptual working of the Conceptual working of the
block in the School Trombe Wall during Trombe Wall during Night
Daytime Time
The colour pallette chosen for the school is a very unique
and subtling one. Where the colour white brings in peace,
cleanliness, innocence, and purity; green brings a very
crisp, environmental, fresh, and harmonious richness to the
design. Where blue brings in authority, power, and a sense
of establishment, brown (wood) emibibes calmness, depth,
simplicity, and subtility; and the dominant grey brings in
authority, humility, practicality, respect, and somberness. Each classroom has a warm, quiet corner with
a small stove on a stone floor. Timber floors and
white-painted walls are provided for maximum
Colour Board teaching flexibility in clear, uncluttered spaces.
The students get playful on their way from the The central circular amphitheatre acts as a meeting Plantations along walkways provide shade, add to Common open land helps the students engage in
residential block to school while enjoying the / gathering spot for students of all standards landscaping elements and also help define the path sport activities and also interact with sdeniors /
scenic mountains in the background enhancing social and cultural richness of walkway batchmates
Building blends with local landscape and terrain. The wood in the summer , successfully gels with green of
References
the deciduous trees and in winter the foci shifts to the dark tinted glass panes and wooden members stand out
• https://www.slideshare.net/RajdeepDhar7/the-druk-white-lotus-school-presentationhttps:// in white scenery. The spaces creates a sense of positive reminiscence a space can be safely said that man and
• www.slideshare.net/grewaln84/druk-white-lotus-school-84643761 nature are in sync with one another
• https://www.arup.com/projects/druk-white-lotus-school
• https://amitlzkpa.wordpress.com/2013/10/02/analysis-of-druk-white-lotus-school/#jp-carousel-678
• http://www.solaripedia.com/13/280/druk_white_lotus_school_scales_heights.html
• https://www.e-architect.com/india/druk-white-lotus-school
• https://landscapewpstorage01.blob.core.windows.net/www-landscapeinstitute-org/2017/04/DWLS-info-boards.pdf
• https://www.zingyhomes.com/architectural-case-study/The-Druk-White-Lotus-School/
• http://fairconditioning.org/showcase/druk-white-lotus-school/ Overall, the design of the school gives us a culmination of being enfilade, enriching the aspect of walkability,
and giving a baronial vibe. Personifying, the school is a very handsome building i.e it is large, attractive, and
impressive and is yet moderately snug giving out warmth and comfort. And lastly, it has an exquisite
collegiate and sits heavily on the ground
Hasan K. Taha B.