Kalagachhia School

2022 onwards (Under Construction)

This project for the Building Dreams Foundation envisions a school that is not only a center for early education but also a critical piece of social infrastructure—a safe haven for the local community during natural disasters. The school is designed to meet the dual objectives of delivering quality learning environments and offering robust physical protection in a region prone to cyclones and flooding.

The campus is organized into three building blocks, configured as one-, two-, and three-story structures, allowing for a phased construction strategy based on the availability of funding. This incremental approach ensures that the school can begin serving the community’s immediate educational needs while also offering a clear path for future expansion.

The structural system is based on reinforced concrete (RCC) construction, chosen for its durability and capacity to withstand extreme weather conditions. The use of RCC aligns with the foundation's vision of creating a “pukka” (permanent and strong) building that doubles as a disaster-resilient shelter for the village in emergencies.

Each floor of the blocks accommodates two classrooms, designed for functionality, comfort, and natural ventilation. The spatial arrangement makes efficient use of the available site, while also leaving ample room for outdoor learning, play, and extracurricular activities—key components of holistic child development.

At the upper levels, terraces are designed as safe and accessible open spaces, adaptable for a variety of uses: recreation, social interaction, school events, and even community functions during non-school hours. These terraces enhance the building's versatility, offering valuable shared space in a region where secure gathering points are limited.

The design embodies a resilient, adaptive, and community-centered vision—providing not just a place for learning, but a symbol of security, growth, and collective well-being. As the school expands over time, it will continue to evolve in response to the changing needs of the village, while always serving as a cornerstone for both education and disaster preparedness.

Design Team:                        Vrinda Seksaria, Sakshi Parab,

Client:                                 Building Dreams Foundation, Veenapani Shivakumar

Location:                                 Kalagachhia, West Bengal

Area:                                     Plot Area

Structural Consultants:        Suhas Chande, Mumbai

2021 - 2022

Design for a Primary School for an NGO Building Dreams Foundation.

Unbuilt Design