The Challenge: A Legacy at Risk
The project began with a brief for demolition of existing school building. A 30-year-old school building in Koyali, Vadodara, was in a dilapidated condition. With a sinking plinth, cracked flooring, and termite-infested doors and windows, lack of natural cross ventilation and heat retention, the four-classroom block was struggling to provide a conducive learning environment. Despite being the oldest structure on campus, distinguished by its characteristic sloping roof, it had become a dark, heat-trapped, and uninspiring environment for learning.
The Vision: Adaptive Reuse
Rather than starting from scratch, our design process began with a structural forensic analysis. We discovered that the building’s "bones" remained resilient. Choosing restoration over demolition, we pivoted our approach to a tailor-made transformation, treating every structural flaw as an opportunity to enhance the educational experience.
Architectural Interventions
We dissected the building’s challenges to implement strategic, climate-responsive solutions:
The Stepped Plinth: To address the sinking foundation, we created a tiered plinth protection system. This structural necessity now doubles as an informal open air amphitheatre, outdoor classroom and play area.
Thermal Breathability: We replaced the leaking roof with a new pitched structure, incorporating a ridge skylight. This creates a "chimney effect," allowing hot air to escape while flooding the classrooms with soft, natural light.
Playful Durability: Termite-prone wood was replaced with painted mild steel doors and windows. These feature "Pacman-inspired" perforations, ensuring continuous cross-ventilation during the monsoon to prevent mold while adding a playful touch for the students.
Materiality: New flooring was crafted from locally sourced limestone, using a mix of yellow and grey tones to create energetic, geometric patterns in the high-traffic verandah.
Curation & Stewardship
Architecture is only as successful as the care it receives from its occupants. To foster a sense of ownership, we collaborated with artists Priyanka Thakar and Badshah Saiyed. Together, we created dynamic murals exploring themes from nature conservation to India's performing arts. These artworks were intentionally left "incomplete," allowing students to fill in colours over time, making the walls a living, evolving part of their education.
The Impact: Architecture as a Catalyst
The true success of the intervention is reflected in the school’s growth. Within just one year of completion, student enrolment surged from 270 to 350.
By choosing to preserve rather than destroy, we provided a sustainable, thermally comfortable, and joyous environment that proves how thoughtful architecture can directly influence the future of a community. Post our contribution, the school has won numerous recognitions and awards from local and state government.
Project: Indiranagar Primary School
Categories: School Architecture, Preservation, Adaptive Reuse, School Design
Location: Koyali, Gujarat, India
Project Completion: June 2021
Area: 3,200 Sq. Ft.
Patron: Baroda Young Turks Round Table 201
Design & Construction Management Team: Ronika Thakkar, Anushka Godbole, Vipul Thakkar, Nirav Suthar, Bhavik Thakkar
Consultants: Kamlesh Thakkar (Structural Consultant)
Artist Collaborators: Priyanka Thakar, Badshah Saiyed
Contractors: Mahesh Prajapati (Civil), Fatehchand Saini (Flooring), Brijesh Sharma, Sanjay Shah (Fabricators), Dwit Electricals (Electrical), Rameshwar Décor (Paint & Polishing)
Photographer: Karan Gajjar (The Space Tracing Company)
