The Courtyard School is located on the edge of a small village, within an area prone to controlled seasonal flooding. The design process began by organizing classrooms around a central courtyard, creating shaded spaces that serve multiple purposes at two levels. The layout incorporates existing trees for natural shade. To protect the structure from the seasonal floods of a nearby river, the building is elevated on stilts.
The central courtyard is key to the space’s functionality, serving as an amphitheatre and prayer hall. A staircase at the heart of the courtyard acts as a gathering point, offering moments of pause and celebration. This design feature enhances the value of the central space, creating an inward-looking, sheltered environment.
The elevated structure creates a shaded area on the ground, offering habitable space and a flexible, incremental building approach. This approach allows additional classrooms to be added cost-effectively as needed. Smaller courtyards, defined by existing trees, form intimate pockets of space, providing shade and vistas for the building. Shaded areas beneath the trees are developed as outdoor play and gathering spaces, featuring freeform seating areas.
The ground level is finished with terrazzo, combining rough and polished stones to create a continuous, directionless surface. Each classroom is paired with an outdoor breakout space, where seating encourages moments of pause. The railings are thoughtfully designed, allowing one to sit comfortably with their leg resting on them.
Institutions evolve over time, and this incremental approach ensures flexibility, allowing for additions and modifications to the building’s concrete grid on both the ground and second levels.
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Project facts
Name of the project – The Courtyard School
Location – Mandal, Gujarat
Total Area – 1800 sqm / 16,000 sqft
Type, Design firm – Institutional, MANAYAN Architects
Lead Designer – Harsh Desai
Photography Credits – Manthan Mevada
