Deepanam School (Mirramukhi School)


Segmental vault, 10.35m span, 2.25 m rise, Built free spanning in 3 weeks


A classroom block
Mirramukhi school was built Auroville in 1995 and it was the opportunity to show that the Nubian technique can be used for any kind of shape and especially for a large span vault. Mirramukhi School has been renamed later on as Deepanam School.

The vault of the multipurpose room started in the corner of the room with a squinche, which grew till it met the diagonal of the room.

Then the vault started, and the window frame was used as a template to insure the proper shape.

Classrooms were covered by cloister domes, built with squinches. These domes, of 5.76m square and 2.25m rise, were built in 6 days by an average of 6 masons.

The main vault has been built in 3 weeks with 4 masons and presents these features:
• Weight: about 30 tons
• Squinche of 7.30 m side and 2.25 m rise
• Segmental vault of 10.35 m span, 2.25 m rise, 6 m long, 17.7 & 14 cm thick.
• Built free spanning with vertical courses

Starting the squinche
 
Net of string lines from the corner pipe to the window frame
Squinche under way
 
Window frame is move at the end of the vault and strings are pulled
 
Laying courses below the string lines
 
Window frame is removed and masons goes on with a straight edge
Vault completed in 3 weeks with 4 masons
Vault of 10.35 m span towards the amphitheatre
Children playing below the vault
 
Vault and the amphitheatre
 
Starting the cloister dome, 5.76 m span
Squinches of the cloister dome
 
Completing the cloister dome
 
Cloister dome completed in 6 days with 6 masons
Acoustic correctors of various sizes
 
Classroom with the cloister dome
 
 
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