Schools in India face daunting challenges due to environmental pollution and climate change. The need to comply with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has further created both pedagogic challenges and new opportunities. Coupled with rising parental expectations, these issues demand innovative, sustainable solutions.
Backed by decades of experience in designing sustainable buildings and educational institutions, Dr. Vinod Gupta’s latest book ‘Beyond Furniture’ sheds light on ergonomic solutions for new-age classrooms. It delves into the fundamentals of ergonomics (which are often misunderstood) and provides practical solutions that can empower schools to respond to social, environmental and economic challenges sustainably.
What sets “Beyond Furniture” apart is that it presents a holistic view on what schools need to do in order to improve the health and academic performance of their students. Whether you are planning, designing, or upgrading a school building, this book is an essential guide to building a thriving learning environment that supports students’ well-being as well as organisational sustainability goals.
Key highlights:
- Discover how to plan for the present and future needs of a school.
- Get a robust action plan that addresses recurring environmental challenges.
- A guide on how to select the right furniture amidst countless options. Schools in India face daunting challenges due to environmental pollution and climate change. The need to comply with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has further created both pedagogic challenges and new opportunities. Coupled with rising parental expectations, these issues demand innovative, sustainable solutions.
The Indian Society of Ergonomics’ flagship event, HWWE 2024, held from 13–15 December 2024 at the University of Calcutta, Kolkata, saw the launch of Beyond Furniture: An Ergonomic Guide for Progressive Schools.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Vinod Gupta is an architect, urban planner, interior designer, furniture designer, and teacher with more than 50 years of experience. He has designed many sustainable, educational and commercial buildings. He taught sustainable design and ergonomics to architects, product designers and interior designers at the School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi and Sushant School of Art and Architecture, Gurugram. More than 20 years back, he founded Opus Indigo Designs to produce his furniture.
In Vinod Gupta’s architectural practice, green architecture and sustainable design has been important. His award-winning projects for NIIT University, Neemrana, Rajasthan with an alternate cooling system and master plan for IIT Gandhinagar set new standards for sustainable planning. Knowing well the Indian ethos, Vinod Gupta designs for Indians in India. The ergonomic designs of his office furniture stand out as original and exceptional. He combines different ideas about sustainable design, ergonomics and pedagogy in designs for school buildings and classroom furniture.