The architectural identity of Rajasthan is largely characterized by historic masonry structures highlighting a deep and enduring material culture. Among these, a post-independence educational institution, built with rubble masonry, stands as a symbol of resilience and functional pragmatism in public school design.

Editor’s Note: “History breathes anew in this quiet village of Nimbahera. Through adaptive reuse, the school once paused in time, now emerges with a purpose. Unfolding as a dialogue across time, every wall whispers the intervention that honors heritage while embracing change. Moreover, R+D Studio reimagines time, not just space.” ~ Anusha Sridhar

Public School Design in Rajasthan Stands on Resilience And Material Identity | R+D Studio

Built by JK Cement Organization in the 1960s as part of their cement plant and colony in the remote village of Nimbahera, around 100km from Udaipur. R+D Studio was engaged to re-examine the entire masterplan and propose a phase wise solution and in doing so, the fundamental question posed was:

How can a historic structure’s utility be extended without compromising its intellectual and cultural integrity? How does architecture reconcile the historical with the contemporary without falling into visual discord? R+D Studio’s intervention inhabits this in-between space, leveraging adaptive reuse as both a strategic method and a guiding philosophy.

Breathing New Life into an Outdated Layout

A K-12 educational institution is not a fixed entity but a dynamic system that evolves over time to accommodate shifting educational and spatial demands. In this case, the original layout included an outdated bachelor’s accommodation within the primary structure—an inefficient use of space that required strategic reconfiguration. The design intervention was executed with precision: the dormitory functions were removed, and the spatial framework was reorganized to integrate a new primary wing.

Form and Function Aligned Across Generations

Rather than merely extending the existing structure, this addition functions as a graft, skillfully bridging historical continuity with contemporary necessity. The addition of a new architectural volume requires more than simple adjacency—it necessitates a deliberate combination of form and function. The new wing does not assert itself as an independent structure but integrates seamlessly into the existing architectural language. A carefully planned circulation strategy achieves this continuity by fostering spatial fluidity. The design orchestrates movement between the historic and contemporary sections of the school to minimize disruption. Meanwhile, the new wing acts as a hinge that unites different sequential and spatial elements into a cohesive whole. Material continuity is fundamental to bridging the historical and the contemporary.

The selective use of local Nimbahera slate stone, stucco, and historically consistent paint formulations reinforces the connection to the original structure. Instead, it is a deliberate engagement with material as a prompt. Thus, allowing the new wing to blend seamlessly into its environment. By embedding the intervention within the existing tectonic language, R+D Studio crafts a built environment that avoids historical disjunction.

Adaptive Reuse

Adaptive reuse extends beyond aesthetic considerations into the realm of sustainable architectural ethics. Rather than erasing embodied energy through demolition, this project prioritizes recalibration and renewal. The intervention amplifies the latent potential of the existing structure. Moreover, it ensures that the addition does not impose an external architectural vocabulary but instead emerges from the intrinsic logic of site and history. R+D Studio’s intervention is neither a nostalgic replication nor a radical departure. Instead, it is an act of architectural authorship—an ongoing process of rewriting, refining, and expanding the built environment.

Recognizing architecture as a dynamic manuscript rather than a static artifact, the project emphasizes its evolving nature. It underscores the idea that historical structures should not be preserved in stillness but engaged in active dialogue. The new primary wing is an argument for the past as a living entity, continuously evolving through thoughtful architectural discourse and intervention. Thus, the school does not merely endure; it transforms, asserting itself as an evolving architectural continuum rather than a static monument to its past.

Bridging the Past and Present

R+D Studio, based in Gurgaon, is designing a new primary wing for an existing K-12 school built with rubble masonry in Rajasthan. To do so, they first redesigned the programmatic arrangement by moving out the existing bachelor’s accommodation. Then, they creatively added the new wing to connect the two blocks. The adaptive re-use created a sustainable solution that seamlessly integrated both space and architecture. Materials like local slate stone, paint, and stucco ensured that the new structure matched the two blocks, despite a 65-year gap between their construction.

Fact File

Designed by: R+D Studio

Project Type: Educational Architecture Design

Project Name: Lala Kamalapat Singhania Public School (LKSPS)

Location: Nimbahera, Rajasthan, India

Year Built: 2021-2024

Built-up Area: 38,000 Sq.ft

Team Design Credits: Shikha Doogar, Shridhar Rao, Ashvajit Singh, Siddharth Saluja, Shruti Yadav, Kushagra Verma, Nitansh Tandon

Photograph Courtesy: Ketan Patel

Source: e-architect

Firm’s Website Link: R+D Studio

Firm’s Instagram Link: R+D Studio

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