In a region where traditional education systems dominate the sector, Bloomingdale International School in Vijayawada highlights the transformative power of parametric architecture in pushing the boundaries of education and challenging conventional norms. It is a first-of-its-kind institute and the only International School in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, that has: in its core value a vision to provide education that is unconventional by standards; in its heart to go beyond what other pre-schools in the region provide; and in its brief to bring a paradigm shift in early education through thoughtful architectural design.
© Vinay Panjwani
The preschool occupies a 4,000 sq. ft. area within the campus, adjoining the existing school building. Connecting the two buildings is a sunken courtyard, following the topography of the site and ascending towards the new extension as if climbing a hill. This site arrangement, along with the need to cater to about 100 pre-schoolers, offered the architects an opportunity to develop something unique to the school campus. The outcome is a design that challenges the notion of what a school should be. It does so by bringing the built form, landscape, and interiors together into a single entity, using non-conventional spatial organization, modern technology, and robust materials. © Vinay Panjwani
In line with its vision, the architecture of Bloomingdale International School breaks away from the typical school design norms. Instead of the...