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
“Viraam,” a 4000 sq ft house design that embodies its literal translation: “a pause.” The vision is to create a sanctuary for relaxation, introspection, and to escape from the constant demands of daily life – an urban void for personal retreat. This 4000 sq ft House Design Unfolds Calm Lifestyle | Avani Mudra Design Reimagining […]
The facade of this Indian contemporary house design strikes a careful balance between solids and voids, with sculpted forms that reveal the inner workings of the space. The design plays with light and shadow, creating visual depth and intrigue from the exterior. The form resembles a cuboid that has been scooped out, while the outer […]
This 5 storey building takes inspiration from ancient haveli architecture. “Hailing from north India, the family held deep nostalgia for haveli, large residences with communal courtyards called chowks, projecting balconies called jharokhas and intricate brick or stone lattice screens called jaalis, vernacular to many western and northern regions of India,” said SJK Architects partner Vaishali […]
Set in the serene landscape of Nashik, the Dabholkar Residence by GDA is a home, embracing stone clad walls. Here, tradition and contemporary design exist in harmony. Designed to reflect the family’s deep connection to tradition and art while embracing the style of contemporary living, it is a space where architectural details, heritage furniture, artwork […]
This remodelling project aimed to revitalise a load-bearing house while respecting its original integrity and adapting it to contemporary needs. The design approach prioritised minimal structural intervention, allowing the existing framework to guide spatial reconfiguration. Careful consideration was given to preserving the load-bearing walls, which formed the backbone of the original construction. Openings were strategically […]
Redefining Indian temple architecture, the relocation of the existing shrine due to a new residential project presented an opportunity to design a space that seamlessly integrates tradition with contemporary needs. The given 400 sq. ft. site was envisioned not merely as a shrine to Lord Datta, a local deity, but as a vibrant community space, […]
Nestled within a 30×40 ft plot is the compact house design in Banashankari 6th Stage, Bengaluru. This residence for the Ellappans, reimagines traditional Indian living in a contemporary, spatially dynamic form. Designed for a family of three- Mr. Ellappan, his wife, and their teenage son- the house expresses a deep connection to vernacular roots while […]
This multi generational home is a testament to the ability of the design practice to blend aesthetic appeal with practical functionality. Keeping environmental sustainability and the welfare of the community at the forefront, Bhowal designed a home that was truly ahead of its time. His visionary approach and the Design Consortium’s expertise in providing 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 […]
Pillar design is a cornerstone of architectural elegance, seamlessly blending structural support with aesthetic appeal. Our blog, “50 Best Pillar Design Inspirations,” celebrates this essential element, showcasing a variety of styles from classical Doric and Ionic to contemporary and avant-garde innovations. Whether you’re an architect, interior designer, or a design enthusiast, these pillar design inspirations […]