Located in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, a warm dry region, this project involved renovating and enlarging a rural school built for the children of the workers of the Penna cement factory. Forming a multipurpose shaded area accessible to the community, a bamboo canopy held up by a lightweight branching metal framework connects the L-shaped existing building to the new freestanding pavilions accommodating additional programs (a kitchen, a canteen, an audiovisual room…). The original internal layout was modified to create twenty-four classrooms, two teachers’ rooms, three laboratories, and two libraries.

Using the existing structure as a base, the facades have been modified with openwork masonry and strategically positioned windows to induce cross-ventilation and daylight intake. The facades present a light layer of cement, complementing the earthy tones of the arid surroundings. The black Kadappa limestone floors are made from waste material procured in quarries of a neighboring village. What the Penna Foundation wanted was a prototype that could he applied to other cement plants in the region.

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