The project was born out of the Studio’s continued engagement with one of known Charities known for their work in the educational sector. WRAP-3, a small interior intervention, finished in 2006 on the same campus, introduced a new set of design values and performance criteria to the student community. Stacked Tectonics, with a primary school program, expected to continue on the spatial and architectural qualities, set by Warp-3, the previous project.

THE SITE
The site given was a linear left over patch between two existing old building in the 20 acre site. The limitation of the site resulted in a linear block with a single loaded corridor. The classroom side faces the larger campus, with the corridor positioned on the rear side.

THE LEGO - STACKED VOLUMES
Self-discovery and playful complexities are vital part of the project. The building is treated much like playful assembly of volumes, piled on top of the other, to create its recognizable architectural language.  Like a Lego, it changes form in dramatic ways as one encounter it from different locations / vantage points.

The class rooms are disposed around fairly loose ancillary spaces to encourage interaction among the students and teachers. Corridors become meeting points and the stepped entrances are open classrooms. A huge window puncture the classroom space streaming daylight for most of the part of teaching hours, saving substantial share of dependency on artificial lighting.Each classroom windows are uniquely shaped and colored, extending the ‘intrigue’ inside the building and giving each class it’s on quirky character.

The whole project was executed with semi-skilled workers from the village, where the campus is located.

Team:
Architect: Collaborative Architecture
Client: JDT Islam Orphanage, Calicut 
Project Team: Lalita Tharani, Mujib Ahmed, Shoukath, Mazhar 
Structure: Basil Thomas, Calicut 
Main Contractor: Moopen’sAztech
Photography: Ajeeb Komachi + Lalita Tharani