The Faculty of Architecture, Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute, organized an academic case study visit to Abacus Montessori School for its second-year B.Arch students. The visit provided an opportunity for students to understand the planning and design principles involved in creating functional, engaging, and child-friendly educational environments.
During the visit, students explored various aspects of school architecture, including site planning, campus zoning, circulation patterns, classroom layouts, learning spaces, administrative areas, playgrounds, and landscape design. They also observed how natural lighting, ventilation, climatic conditions, building materials, construction details, and façade treatments contribute to the overall design of an educational institution.
One of the key learning experiences was understanding the importance of designing spaces based on the needs and scale of children. Moving beyond conventional human-scale design, students explored how toddler and child-scale planning influences spatial arrangements, accessibility, safety, and interaction within educational environments.
The case study helped students recognize how architectural design can support children’s learning, creativity, comfort, and development. It also encouraged them to analyse how different design elements work together to create safe, welcoming, and stimulating learning spaces.
Such academic visits play an important role in architectural education by connecting classroom theories with real-world architectural examples. They help students develop observation skills, strengthen their design understanding, and gain practical knowledge of planning and spatial organization.
The visit to Abacus Montessori School was a valuable learning experience, encouraging future architects to think from the user’s perspective and create meaningful, inclusive, and child-centric educational spaces.
➤Watch the glimpses on Instagram!