Nokha Village Community Center

Sanjay Puri Architects

Short description

Located in Rajasthan, India, amidst the arid landscapes of the Nokha district, the Nokha Village Community Centre serves not only as a community hub for the 144 villages in the district but also as a memorial for Padmaramji Kularia, envisioned by his family.

The Nokha Village Community Centre emerges from the desert environment with a striking presence. Its main architectural feature—a sweeping curvilinear volume—elegantly loops around the site, creating a dynamic interplay of space and form. This design choice is not merely aesthetic but also functional, providing an open north-facing courtyard that serves as the community center’s heart.

Spanning a modest 9,000 square feet, the center maximizes its footprint by integrating a rooftop garden. This inclined garden, designed with two varying slopes, is more than a recreational space; it offers panoramic views of the desert, inviting the community to gather and engage with their natural surroundings. Beneath this verdant expanse lies a thoughtful composition of spaces catering to different needs: a museum dedicated to local culture and a digital library for children, addressing the scarcity of educational facilities in the area.

The building’s southern façade, along with most of the eastern and western sides, is enveloped in a grass-covered earth berm, a strategic response to the challenging desert climate, where temperatures soar between 35°C and 40°C for most of the year. Complementing this, natural sandstone screens adorn the elliptical library. Sourced from the immediate area, these screens not only reduce heat gain but also cast mesmerizing shadow patterns that shift throughout the day, showcasing a deep respect for traditional Rajasthani architecture while enhancing thermal comfort.

The green roof is a welcome relief from the surrounding arid landscape and is sustained using recycled water from the adjacent owner’s house. In a region where gardens are a rarity—limited to a few large private homes that can afford their upkeep—this communal garden is accessible to everyone, joyously used by children and adults alike. The gentle 1:20 slope ensures easy access, allowing visitors to walk or run up to the viewing platform at the top.

At its core, the Nokha Village Community Centre reflects a commitment to sustainability. The rooftop gardens, stone screens, and strategic landscaping collectively mitigate heat gain, enhancing energy efficiency. This sustainability ethos extends to construction practices, emphasizing rainwater harvesting, water recycling, and the use of local materials and craftsmanship. As a result, the building sits harmoniously within its desert context while supporting the local economy.

Today, the Nokha Village Community Centre stands as a vibrant hub for all age groups, hosting music, talks, and social gatherings. It exemplifies how thoughtful architecture can create expansive community spaces without a large footprint: with a built-up area of 9,000 square feet, it delivers over five times more usable space, including a 27,000-square-foot open-air auditorium.