Learning in a designed environment

We, parents, are always very protective and conscious of our children while it comes to their education and learning. We are continuously looking for the best mode of teaching, profound environment of learning, and well-nurtured space which helps our kids to grow with proper behaviour and knowledge. For these reasons, we keep looking for remarkable schools which not only possess great teaching support but also provide a tailored learning space.

Many of us are well aware of Zinda Park - a pleasant outdoor recreation area situated close to Dhaka city, just beside Purbachal in Northern Dhaka. However, Zinda Park is not just a mere park, rather, it is a community park which was established there to serve the adjacent village named Zinda gram. The park is a compilation of primary and secondary school, community clinic, library, mosque, and food zone providing community services to that village.

The primary and general school named Little Angels Seminary accommodates students from class one to class eight. It was designed by architect Saidul Hasan Rana, who practised in Singapore for a long time and is now serving his own land by carrying out many communal activities. Among his contribution stands the noteworthy architectural features inside Zinda Park.

Introducing spaces for learning

A school comprised of openness and ample space automatically inspires youngsters to concentrate on their studies. The Little Angels Seminary has a vast open area at the entrance of the school which allows the children to carry out playful activities. The playground in front of the building, having no walls or boundaries between the ground and the building keeps the space flowing from outside into the school.
The school consists of a two-storied building having eight classrooms with administrative and teachers' rooms on the ground floor. Moreover, there is another play zone located on the first floor.

Creating interactive spaces

The open space on the terrace has a round sitting arrangement where students can study in groups and indulge in creative learning while interacting with each other. The classrooms revolve around small open common areas full of green trees and bushes which helps children to grow near nature and learn from it even when they are inside the building. Every freestanding columns have a base of bricks and cement - students can sit there and chat with each other during breaks.

Lively Stairs with playful levels

Wide stairs on both sides in the front of the school welcome the learners into the knowledge sharing entity. The hanging stairs are open towards the playground. Its railing is contrasted with solid walls and designed wooden railings on both sides ensuring complete safety for the students. Children jovially use the stairs and interact with each other from both levels of the school building.   

Rethinking windows and classrooms

Classrooms are also unconventional with its child-friendly simple structured furniture, doors, and windows. No glass material is used in the entire building as it is hazardous for children. The walls are thick and are engraved with playful shapes of rectangles as openings, placed in the outer walls in a scattered way, which brings light inside the rooms breaking regimental boring square windows with bars.

Playing in slopes and in field

The upper story has small slopes with the terrace; kids can be seen sliding over the slopes during their tiffin periods and teens using the slopes on the ground which connects to the green field in front of the school.

The playful elementary school presents a joyful environment for every student in that school. Architect expressed his vision for the school to be lost in nature, where it is crafted together for a meaningful architecture to simplify lives significantly from insects to humans.

Parents, visiting Zinda park with their children to escape from the monotonous Dhaka city life and to get fresh air in an ample nature, always wish to admit their kids at the Little Angels Seminary. They even suggest Zinda park authorities to construct a residential unit for students so that they can send their kids to learn and grow in such an amusing environment and architecture marvel of the village.