Girls orphanage and home for abandoned babies, Rishikesh

Abstract

It has been seen that so far majority of the structures or buildings designed taking children as primary users, have been designed from the perspective of adults and there is a gap between the psychological needs and the spaces designed for the children. Children perceive spaces differently than adults. They are genetically programmed to interact with nature, and manipulate things which they cannot find in architecture, consequently, the children could not develop sense of favourite place to the architecture. In other words, the architecture fails to stimulate the children’s cognitive functioning, affords insufficient space for physical functioning on the children’s terms, and allows little opportunities for the children to socialize in their own choice and control. This thesis would be focusing on providing an environment conducive for the positive cognitive, physical and social growth of the children. To do this a literature review would explore the various theories on the perception and spatial need of the children and methods to overcome the psychological problems the orphan children are faced with. All these theories shall be translated in architectural design interventions focussed on providing a psychologically healthy and playful environment to grow up in.