Design for Well-Being at the Malankara Orthodox Church Girls Home

In the tranquil surrounds of Chathannoor, Kollam, stands a symbol of thoughtful architecture and compassionate design: Snehanilayam, Malankara Orthodox Church Girls Home. More than just a shelter, this facility, envisioned and brought to life by architect duo Guruprasad Rane and Manasi Puliyappatta of Bhoomija Creations offers nurturing environments where vulnerable children can thrive, showcasing how architecture can truly create supportive spaces. By Arya Nair

Bhoomija Creations led by architects Guruprasad Rane and Manasi Puliyappatta, undertook this project as one of their earliest endeavours, starting in February 2012. They reimagined an old orphanage into a vibrant, modern space that prioritises the emotional and psychological well-being of vulerable children, allowing them to flourish. We sat down with Rane for an interview, as he offered a window into his design and thought process.

The Genesis of a Vision

The Malankara Orthodox Church  (also designed by Bhoomija Creations) had long operated an orphanage in Chathannoor, a modest, older building housing children alongside sisters and local community members. The vision was to expand this humble dwelling into a larger, more accommodating structure for 35 to 40 children.

Rane recalls the initial ambitious plan to utilise compressed mud blocks for sustainable construction, even manufacturing them on site. However, this innovative approach met with significant resistance from within the church, driven by concerns about durability and unfamiliarity with the method.

“Due to this strong resistance, we had to change the design from a mud building to an exposed brick building,” Rane explains. This pivot brought its own set of challenges, primarily finding skilled workers adept at exposed brickwork, as the initial crew was trained in conventional construction. Fortunately, with the steadfast support of the church’s higher authorities, including the Bishop and fathers, the team created sample walls. This hands-on demonstration instilled confidence in the masons and engineers, allowing the exposed brickwork to proceed.

The project’s evolution didn’t stop there. What began as a plan for a G+1 structure expanded midway to include an additional floor and more facilities. The entire undertaking was donor funded, leading to a staggered construction process that unfolded as funds became available. “It wasn’t a smooth process,” Rane admits, “but it was finally completed a couple of years ago.”

Designing for Emotional and Psychological Well Being

Beyond providing mere shelter, a core aim for the Girls Home was to cultivate bright, sunny spaces that would positively impact the children’s emotional and psychological well-being. Rane emphasises the diverse backgrounds of the children who arrive at the home, many without a proper home, some lacking close family, and others from extremely impoverished conditions. The design sought to counteract these challenging beginnings.

“We wanted to create a structure that felt lively and bright inside, with ample light and ventilation,” Rane states. While the exterior embraces the raw beauty of exposed brick, the interior  of the Girls Home is a stark contrast: plastered and painted an off-white colour with light wood accents. This deliberate choice ensures a consistently well-lit environment, countering the often-darker feel of mud or exposed material buildings.

A poignant observation from the old building deeply influenced the design: children would rush to see who was arriving, always anticipating family members. This insight led to the creation of specific spaces overlooking the car porch, allowing the girls to easily see who is coming and going, a subtle acknowledgment of their longing for loved ones. The building now houses dormitories, a common dining area, a library, and a study area with computer facilities, spaces designed to be gradually furnished as donations for interiors and equipment trickle in.

The “Branching Tree” Layout and Compartmentalisation

The design of the Girls Home is famously “tree inspired,” particularly in its use of split levels that seem to branch out. This unconventional layout was a conscious decision to foster connections while also providing proper zoning and avoiding a feeling of compartmentalisation. Rane explains the rationale behind this unique approach, particularly regarding the dynamic between children and caretakers.

“In many orphanages, there’s a tendency for caretakers to constantly supervise the children. We didn’t want the kids to feel as if they were being watched,” he clarifies.

The solution was an ingenious five-foot split level that separates the children’s wing from the caretakers’ wing. This creates a sense of autonomy for the children, they feel they are on their “own level,” while simultaneously allowing caretakers to maintain a watchful eye from just five feet above, without making the children feel overtly monitored. This innovative idea culminated in the central open well staircase that seamlessly connects these split levels, embodying the very essence of the “branching tree” feel.

While the design of the Girls Home prioritises a shared community, it also subtly addresses the need for individual space within shared bedrooms. Rane clarifies that the dormitories do not offer individual rooms but rather individual bed spaces with a small shelf for each child.

The privacy achieved is not between the children within the dormitories, but rather the unique “privacy” established between the children and the caretakers through the split-level design. For instance, a room might house eight children, their bed spaces forming a shared communal area within that dormitory.

Feedback and Key Learnings

Today, the Girls Home is fully functional, a vibrant hub of activity. Rane and his team continue to visit frequently, as the interiors are still being furnished incrementally through donations. This ongoing relationship has provided invaluable feedback, particularly regarding the central staircase.

“The most encouraging feedback is how lively the staircase area has become,” Rane beams. “Whenever we meet the children, we see them gathered around the staircase. The staircase acts as a connection point between the two levels for both the kids and the caretakers.” The ample natural light flooding the open well staircase has transformed it into a beloved spot where the children often sit and read on the steps. “It makes us very happy to see the core area we tried to develop being utilized so well by the children. It truly feels like the building came alive!” he exclaims.

Architecture as a Tool for Nurturing Environments

The Chathannoor Girls Home stands as a powerful example of how architecture can contribute to a better future for foster care institutions. However, Rane is cautious about offering a direct “blueprint” for others to blindly follow. “I’m not a strong believer in providing a blueprint for others to follow, because it can stop people from thinking deeply,” he asserts. His philosophy centers on approaching each project individually, delving deep to find unique solutions, a practice he encourages in others.

Yet, if pressed, he highlights two key transferable lessons: making residents feel not watched, while still maintaining supervision, a concept brilliantly executed through the split level design. He also touches upon an initial, more ambitious plan for the project that aimed to give each child a greater sense of “ownership” within their space. This vision, however, proved unfeasible due to budget constraints, necessitating a more regular design to keep costs down.

Rane passionately believes that architecture profoundly affects everyone daily, particularly marginalized populations. In such cases, every design aspect must be approached with incredible care. He cites the example of designing for residents who might have tendencies towards self-harm or aggression, requiring meticulous detailing to ensure the architecture doesn’t inadvertently lead to such incidents. Crucially, the structure must not feel like a cage or be overly restrictive. The Girls Home, with its subtle details and boundaries integrated with the larger church complex, avoids this pitfall, creating a sense of openness rather than enclosure.

Rane admits that at the project’s inception, not all these specific considerations were immediately apparent. Extensive conversations with the caregivers gave the architects crucial inputs. “Often, architects design with fantasies of forms and shapes, but for socially vulnerable people, basic necessities are paramount,” he emphasises. “We can only truly understand these needs by meeting them, speaking with them, and conducting a different kind of data collection.”

Reflecting on the evolution of architectural thinking, particularly in contrast to historical approaches like the linear “Kirkbride planning” for mental asylums, Rane acknowledges the desire among contemporary architects to break away from stereotypical designs for institutions like orphanages.

However, he also points out that many “olden theories” are time tested, and caretakers or agencies often have rigid boundaries they are unwilling to cross. While advocating for evolution and new solutions, he stresses the need for extensive homework before proposing something new. “We need to be careful, but yes, we have to keep evolving and finding better ways,” he says.

A Child’s Favourite Space

When asked to imagine himself as a child in the house, frequenting his favourite space within it, Rane responds immediately and with heartfelt clarity: ‘I think it would be that staircase area.’

He describes it as a multifaceted space, connected to the designated area for birds, conveniently close to the dining hall, and acting as a central pole that ties all the different spaces together. “That would definitely have been my favourite spot,” he affirms.

Rane concludes with a fervent wish for the architectural community: “I truly wish architects get to design more of these types of buildings.” He laments the prevalence of makeshift arrangements in foster homes across India and stresses the critical need for properly designed spaces.

“I hope the government and different agencies step forward to get spaces designed for these functions,” he urges, citing an example of another NGO operating out of a century old tiled roof building, managing as best they can. For Rane, designed spaces are not a luxury but a fundamental necessity for vulnerable populations. The legacy of the Girls Home isn’t just in its bricks and mortar, but in the vibrant, thriving lives it helps to cultivate, one child at a time.

Picture Credits: Ar. Prasanth Mohan, Running Studios