Architecture School School

Architecture School School

Architecture School School is an innovative educational facility design project that exemplifies sustainable architectural principles and contextual sensitivity in institutional design. Located in Manipal, India, this comprehensive academic complex spans three acres with a built area of 10,700 square meters, featuring a distinctive stepped profile that ranges from single to six stories in height. The design philosophy integrates research-based approaches drawing from local traditions, native materials, and climate-responsive factors, resulting in a reduced ecological footprint. The structure employs locally sourced materials including Laterite, Kota, and Granite stone combined with concrete, while the landscape incorporates native trees to maintain biodiversity within the campus. The spatial organization comprises three academic blocks and one administrative block, strategically arranged to create an aerodynamic form that channels valley breezes. The design, which won the Iron A' Design Award in the Architecture, Building and Structure Design category in 2019, showcases innovative features such as a parametrically generated facade inspired by traditional temple gateways, barrier-free accessibility, and interconnected spaces that promote active student interaction. The central plaza serves as a visual anchor, connecting all levels and fostering community engagement, while staggered circulation paths opening into courts and plazas create dynamic movement patterns throughout the complex. The project demonstrates exceptional consideration for environmental factors, with wind and solar simulations informing the modulation of openings and built forms, establishing harmony between constructed and open spaces to enhance the site's microclimate.

architectural education, sustainable design, climate responsive architecture, institutional architecture, contextual design, educational facilities

— Adam Dawson