In the rural context of Palakkad, the C.A.H.S. school is situated amidst paddy fields, embracing heritage design, native architecture and tradition. It offers a serene escape from city life, surrounded by lush greenery. Previously, the site had poor-quality structures scattered in different orientations, built over various periods without proper master planning. The project’s scope involved crafting an overall master plan and uplifting the school.
Editor’s Note: “Amidst Palakkad’s refreshing paddy fields, this rural school breathes heritage while balancing innovation. The sunlit verandas resound joy, and the towering columns echo tradition while sheltering the young minds. This school celebrates the learning of culture, nature, and knowledge through a harmony of raw textures, muted colors, and interactive spaces.” ~ Anusha Sridhar
Heritage Design Blends with Native Architecture in This Rural School | Studio Acis
Strategies like preservation, rehabilitation, adaptive reuse, new construction, and renovation were implemented in six phases. The first phase focused on constructing a new admin block (Block H), inspired by existing challenges, while the second phase involved renovating the higher secondary block (Block A).
The remaining four phases include demolition, new constructions, preservation, adaptive reuse, and rehabilitation for future development. However, a major challenge was designing the school within budget constraints.
Planned on a 2.53-acre site, the new Admin block (Block H, 20,659 sq. ft.) integrates multiple functions under one roof. Its linear form establishes a clear axis for the school. Thus, emphasizing the entry and segregating public and private zones.
This block houses meeting rooms, classrooms, and a flexible auditorium. Additionally, spaces are efficiently planned with proper segregation, ensuring effective management. Furthermore, the ground floor is open, connecting users to the surroundings and serving as a gateway.
The first floor features semi-open spaces with verandas running parallel, visually linking the open ground floor and surrounding blocks. Design elements like verandas, north-facing linear windows, double-height spaces, gathering pockets, and rooms with light on both sides create vibrant, inspiring spaces.
Natural light filters into the school, fostering an elegant, energizing environment for young minds. The architecture blends raw concrete textures with earthy tones, while floor-to-floor balconies enhance transparency and seamless indoor-outdoor transitions, connecting the building to its context.
The second phase involved renovating Block A (8,720 sq. ft.). The design addressed challenges by drawing inspiration from nearby structures and traditional Kerala values. Additionally, an outer layer of columns topped with a roof transforms the dynamics of the space by enhancing the existing structure.
The corridors, with muted colors and interplay of light, celebrate tranquility and grandeur. These imposing columns and verandas now provide shade and comfort, protecting against rain and sun while creating interactive spaces. However, this redesign balances heritage with functionality, fostering active learning, social interaction, and emotional development.
Always envisioned as a school, where its essence balances between heritage and innovation, which is culturally rooted and emphasizes the open spaces. A space where children feel safe, a place to unwind that encourages the interaction between students themselves and with the teachers and fosters collaboration.
Fact File
Designed by: Studio Acis
Project Type: Educational Architecture Design
Project Name: C.A.H.S. School Ayakkad
Location: Ayakkad, Kerala
Year Built: 2024
Built-up Area: 29379 Sq.ft
Principal Architect: Ar. Rakesh Kakkoth
Design Team: Ar. Suraj S & Ar. Jeswin David
Photograph Courtesy: Studio IKSHA
Engineering And Consulting: Structural: Er. Hariharan
Source: Archdaily
Firm’s Website Link: Studio Acis
Firm’s Instagram Link: Studio Acis
For Similar Project>> This Sustainable School Fosters Independence and Self-reliance
The site is located in Ahilyanagar town of Maharashtra, with a design brief of 7,000 sq feet, while the house had to be designed for the hot and dry climate, which responds carefully to extreme temperatures, intense sunlight, and low humidity. The design focuses on reducing heat gain, improving natural ventilation, and creating comfortable indoor spaces with […]
“Pravah” — A House That Breathes is envisioned as the main concept of this home revolves around a fluid, light-filled home where architecture becomes a continuous experience of movement, air, and connection. Located in Pal Gamtal, Surat, the project is a residential redevelopment on a 1,850 sq.ft. plot within a dense urban fabric. The site, […]
SapanoUday is a contemporary residence that balances material rawness with layered textures and crafted detail, aligning modern living with cultural and spatial sensibilities. Designed by Hundreddesigns, the home responds closely to the client’s routines and artistic inclinations while thoughtfully integrating Vastu principles. HundredDesigns The designers defined the architecture through a minimal palette, using exposed concrete […]
KRIPA is a residence that reflects the personality and lifestyle of its homeowner — calm, open, and rooted in nature. The project focuses on creating light-filled, green spaces with minimal private zones, encouraging openness and connection. In a time when spaces are shrinking but expectations are rising, architecture becomes the medium to bridge this gap […]
The Sculpted Sanctuary is a masterclass in modern minimalist design. The project focuses on “Quiet Luxury”. It is the idea that a space doesn’t need bright colors or flashy decor to feel expensive. Instead, it uses raw natural materials, rich textures, and sharp architectural lines. This Home Is A Masterclass In Modern Minimalist Design | […]
SIDHARTHA, is a four-bedroom modern house which is functional and aesthetic driven by the specific needs of the client. The location of the site is in a dense neighbourhood in Bengaluru, India. The contemporary urban dwelling frequently negotiates competing demands. It balances generous daylight and visual connection to the street with privacy, dust control, and […]
Located in HMT Layout, Bangalore, Isha_Srinidhi Nilaya stands as a multi-generational home designed on a compact 60×40 ft (2400 sq. ft) East facing plot, with a total built-up area of 8000 sq. ft. East Facing a lush public park, the residence responds to its urban setting through a layered design that balances privacy with a […]
Timeless architectural features, such as courtyards, are always associated with bringing the naturally public forms to the world’s heart, building the most peaceful, secluded outdoor areas. These outdoor spaces maximize the living experience with their private space feature, which gives one the option for leisurely relaxation, recreation, or gardening. Furthermore, it has also been a […]
The Indian farmhouse accommodation goes on to capitalize on a mature evolutionary synthesis of ancestral aesthetics and contemporary features. With this, the outside and the inside of farmhouses became places of comfort with nature. In this blog, we delve into 15 incredible farmhouse designs that entail a harmonious blending. While they exhibit different spaces in […]
Plants for home garden, apart from making houses look more beautiful and inviting, add health and calmness to them. Having any kind of indoor plant, a herb plant or a flowering plant adds some value to your decor and the quality of the space. Always choose plants that will flourish in your space and climate. […]