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Rajkumari Ratnavati Girls’ School: How Architecture Is Keeping Jaisalmer’s Girls Cool Without Air Conditioning
Jaisalmer, Rajasthan: In the heart of the scorching Thar Desert, where summer temperatures can climb to nearly 50°C, the Rajkumari Ratnavati Girls’ School is demonstrating how architecture can work in harmony with nature.
Located in Jaisalmer, the school can remain up to 10°C cooler than the outside temperature without air conditioning, relying instead on traditional design principles, local materials and climate-responsive architecture.
Named after Rajkumari Ratnavati, daughter of Maharawal Ratan Singh of Jaisalmer, the school stands on land donated by the Jaisalmer royal family. Its design was led by New York-based architect Diana Kellogg, who reportedly worked pro bono and travelled between New York and Jaisalmer over several years to develop the project.
The school’s distinctive elliptical shape is central to its cooling strategy. Rather than allowing hot desert winds to hit a straight wall directly, the curved structure allows air to flow around the building, while reducing direct exposure to solar heat. The oval form also represents feminine strength and draws inspiration from the rounded architectural forms associated with Rajasthan’s historic forts.
The building uses locally sourced yellow Jaisalmer sandstone, the same distinctive stone associated with Jaisalmer Fort. Its density allows it to absorb heat slowly during the day and release it gradually at night, helping moderate indoor temperatures. Natural lime plaster on the interior walls further contributes to thermal stability.
Another important feature is the traditional jali, or latticework. The perforated windows provide shade and facilitate airflow, while drawing on an architectural tradition historically used in Rajasthan to provide privacy.
The school forms part of the GYAAN Center, a three-building community initiative by the CITTA Foundation, led by artist Michael Daube. Adjacent to the school is a women’s cooperative where local mothers earn livelihoods through weaving and embroidery—creating an ecosystem where girls receive education while their mothers gain economic independence.
The girls’ uniforms were designed by Sabyasachi using Ajrakh, a traditional block-printing craft, supporting both cultural identity and local craftsmanship. Local artisans also hand-carved the sandstone, while the courtyard incorporates rainwater harvesting to conserve precious water.
Today, around 400 girls from kindergarten to Class 10 study at the school. The project received global recognition after winning the Architectural Digest AD100 award in the year of its completion.
Perhaps its most powerful story is that much of the stonework was carried out by the fathers of the girls who now study there.
The Rajkumari Ratnavati Girls’ School is therefore more than a school. It represents a powerful intersection of sustainability, heritage, education, women’s empowerment and community participation—showing that thoughtful design can create opportunity while respecting nature and local culture.
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