Roots Academy
Roots is a school that had a progressive view of education run by Pruthvi and Pranothi Banawasi. To nurture the kids, an open environment was designed. An existing building was remodeled for the classrooms and the rest of the site was carved into a variety of shared learning spaces. An art cluster of 3 ‘huts’ around a small court-like space is where learning is most enjoyed. Larger gathering activities are held in the multipurpose hall next to the huts.
The intimate architecture in compressed earth blocks and reused packaging wood is hugged by the landscape . Finishes are kept natural and earthy. The architecture lends itself as a canvas for the teachers and children to energize and and use in multiple ways. The light roof structure in reused packing wood is held up by clever structural design in steel.
The soul of the school lay in its art village, designed as open pavilions in the landscape.
The design approach for ROOTS Academy centers on creating an "intimate" and "open" environment that prioritizes natural materials and spatial flexibility. Key elements of the approach include:
Material Harmony: The palette focuses on earth, wood, and steel. By using compressed earth blocks and reused packaging wood, the architecture achieves a low-impact, tactile, and "friendly" aesthetic that feels grounded.
Adaptive Reuse: Rather than building from scratch, an existing building was remodeled for classrooms. The surrounding site was "carved" to create specialized zones, such as the art cluster consisting of three distinct "huts" arranged around a central court.
Tactile Finishes: Finishes are kept natural and earthy, serving as a neutral "canvas." This allows students and teachers to inhabit and "energize" the space, making the architecture a participant in the learning process rather than just a backdrop.
Structural Ingenuity: The design balances heavy masonry with a lightweight roof structure. Reused wood is supported by "clever" steel structural design, creating a sense of openness and light within the multipurpose and gathering areas.
Photography: Shine Parsanna
