Anjuman School

The Anjuman-E-Himayat-E-Islam Trust in T. Nagar, Chennai, with a legacy spanning more than 130 years, has long served orphaned children and those from economically challenged backgrounds. Within its expansive 10-acre campus—home to a mosque, multiple educational institutions, vocational centres, and residential facilities—the new school building was envisioned for orphan boys from grades 6 to 12. Supported by generous benefactors and executed on a tight budget, the project demanded a design that was both economical and meaningful.

The designated site is a rectangular plot of about 1,600 square metres, positioned beside the main playground to the west and the rainwater harvesting pond to the south. Given its proximity to the southern and eastern boundaries, privacy became a crucial consideration. Equally important was the need to raise the plinth to prevent flooding from the adjacent pond. With these constraints, the design prioritised natural light, ventilation, and climate responsiveness, resulting in two interconnected volumes enveloped by a brick façade.

The building’s longer edges face north and south, aligning with Chennai’s predominant wind direction. This orientation allows the structure to harness the soothing south breeze while shielding interior spaces from harsh sunlight. A skylit central courtyard forms the heart of the school, flooding the interiors with diffused natural light and creating a serene, uplifting atmosphere. A straight-flight staircase, also illuminated from above, connects all levels and opens into verandas along the southern edge. These verandas act as transitional zones, naturally ventilating the classrooms and central atrium through a perforated brick screen.

This brick façade takes inspiration from traditional Islamic jallis, reinterpreting them to create an intricate play of light, shade, and airflow. Using all three dimensions of the brick—length, breadth, and height—the pattern generates zero material wastage while creating voids not wider than 60mm to prevent pigeon nesting. Colour punctuates the architecture subtly through classroom entrances and checkered flooring in breakout spaces, offering visual relief from the warm earthy palette.

Thoughtfully planned service areas ensure functional efficiency, with laboratories placed along the hotter western edge and toilets and staircases positioned on the east. The Anjuman School stands as a testament to climate-sensitive, purposeful design—an environment that nurtures young minds and inspires learning, dignity, and possibility for generations to come.