architecture of avrs

AVRS has been planned and designed by the eminent architect P.T.Krishnan, credited with designing and executing many educational institutions including the University of Mauritius. His knowledge of design has informed all aspects of the AVRS architecture - cultural spaces, local, ecological and conservation considerations, as well as insights into learning spaces. Mr. Krishnan is Convenor of the Chennai chapter of INTACH - Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage.

The AVRS campus has striking natural attributes. It slopes from east to west providing a natural incline for water to drain into a large lake with distant views of the hills. The campus itself has a smaller water body, and facilities like the open-air theatre, sports and other recreational activities are located in proximity to these water bodies.

The Indian context and the relevance of education to our current social and cultural realities are emphasized by the architecture of the school. The buildings are constructed with walls of local stone and tiled roofs incorporating courtyards, open verandahs and terraces giving the campus a regional yet modernist flavor. A substantial portion of the site is retained as a green belt, and the ground cover is preserved in its natural form.

The design of AVRS makes a conscious departure from the traditional image of a school where the power of the institution generally dominates. The Campus is designed to ensure that all the spaces are free-flowing and merging into each other. For example, the Foyer (entrance) of the school opens into a covered Lobby area that continues into an open courtyard surrounded by classrooms - thus creating an aura of openness. This design element also ensures spaces are not rigid or compartmentalized but are dynamic, having multiple uses.

The Amber Valley Residential School boasts of an informal ambience where the child feels comfortable helping to stimulate mental alertness and improve concentration in impressionable minds.