VISION

Located on the banks of River Mahanadi in the small village of Binka, Shikha Eco-village aspires to become a premiere educational centre of global repute for the community of hearing impaired.

The university will offer a wide variety of educational programs focused on vocational training, humanities, basic sciences and linguistics with a focus on Indian and International Sign Languages.

The University also aims to become an important regional centre for the advocacy of the rights and betterment for the community of hearing impaired in India.

DESIGN

The architecture of this campus emerges from a deep understanding of communication, line-of-sight and instructional requirements for the hearing impaired. A single learning module forms the basis for the entire campus.

Flexibility is introduced at a genetic level as the learning module can be used in very versatile ways for living, learning, utility, etc.

The settlements around Binka have a unique vernacular architecture which combines the tropical elements of courtyard, veranda with unique elements such as the inverse roof.

The local community relies of clay-fired bricks as well as fly-ash bricks which inspired the layered design of the buildings. The buildings are designed to respond to the climate and thereby allow for passive thermal regulation.