Bloomingdale International School in India, designed by Andblack, is a forerunner of architectural influence in the creation of new educational environments.

In a region where traditional education systems dominate the sector, the Bloomingdale International School in Vijayawada, designed by Andblack highlights the transformative power of parametric architecture to push the boundaries of education and challenge conventional norms.

It is the first school of its kind and the only international school in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, which has at its core a vision to offer unconventional education; at its heart, to go beyond what other pre-schools in the region offer; and in its brief, to bring a paradigm shift in early childhood education through thoughtful architectural design.

The pre-school occupies an area of 4,000 m2 within the campus, adjacent to the existing school building. The two buildings are connected by a sunken courtyard that follows the topography of the site and ascends towards the new extension as if climbing a hill. This layout of the site, together with the need to cater for a hundred or so pre-school pupils, offered the architects a unique opportunity to develop something that would be unique on the school campus.

A design that challenges the notion of what a school should be, and does so by uniting built form, landscape and interiors into a single entity, using unconventional spatial organisation, modern technology and robust materials.

In keeping with his vision, Bloomingdale International School ‘s architecture breaks with typical school design norms. Instead of the usual box-shaped classrooms, the design conceives classrooms as fluid, interconnected spaces that encourage free movement and interaction.

The design seamlessly combines play and learning spaces, blurring the boundaries between the two. The playground contributes to this effect by adapting as a play area, classroom, amphitheatre or puddle, depending on the function. This unique spatial experience is reinforced by the use of full-height glass panels in place of walls and skylights in the roof. In doing so, the design completely eliminates the notion of what is inside and what is outside, thus making the landscape an extension of the built space and vice versa.

Another departure from conventional school architecture is that the design relies on built form rather than bright colours to generate visual interest. The central idea is that “the building, rather than being part of the landscape, should be a form of the landscape itself”. This is evident in the curved, undulating roof that emulates a wave or perhaps rolling hills. When viewing this building from a distance, the viewer can immediately glimpse the landscape beyond, making the building seem part of the scene itself. A closer look reveals the true ingenuity of the design: children inhabiting the building, as if protected inside a cocoon.

The fluid form of the roof – covered with grass and supported by a structural space with no internal obstacles or supports – has been conceptualised using computer tools. Its ingenuity lies in how the green surface stands out from the rest of the building, making it a landmark of the area. Even more striking is the fact that the structure has been built on a limited budget, adopting an efficient construction process that takes into account available resources and technologies.

The use of prefabricated materials is another key aspect of the design. The structural core of the roof has been constructed on site using precast elements and construction techniques that involved directing single joint plates at each intersection of circular hollow sections curved along the X and Y axes. The required curvature was achieved by varying the height of the precisely fabricated and assembled joints. The structural complexities of achieving a smooth outer skin were resolved with a ferrocement roof integrated over the single metal structure.

When this structure is viewed from the inside, the roof creates a captivating sense of awe and mystery at the same time. The exposed structural elements along the roof present a beautiful contrast to the exterior grass surface, allowing the true character of the materials to shine through. The visual effect of this austere palette of materials is accentuated by the natural light dissipating through the skylights, accentuating the seamless curvature and creating an anchor point in each classroom. The movement of light and shadow, which diffuses into the classroom throughout the day, adds another playful element to the design.

The use of full-height glass panels and a grass roof, the fluid spatial organisation of the classrooms, the use of prefabrication and computer technologies and a parametric architectural form, depart from the typical box building, creating a different, non-conformist and playful structure that can keep children’s curiosity alive.

Project: Bloomingdale International School. Cocoon, Pre-primary Extension.
Completed: 2024.
Location: Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh). India.
Architecture: Andblack Design Studio.
Team: Jwalant Mahadevwala, Adity Rawat.
Structural consultant: Shehzad Irani.
Photography: Vinay Panjwani.
Text: Andblack.

Andblack Design Studio

The Andblack design studio is led by Kanika Agarwal and Jwalant Mahadevwala. Both graduated from the Architectural Association in London. Jwalant then worked with Zaha Hadid Architects and Kanika with Michael Hopkins in London for about 4 years before moving to Ahmedabad in India.

The philosophy of the Andblack design studio lies in designing the process that leads to the ‘solution’. They believe that the design process should be robust enough to inform all phases of design, from concept to detail. They constantly challenge themselves to rethink these processes to suit the project.

Andblack design studio aims to achieve energy efficiency that deploys smart systems and makes intelligent use of natural materials. Jwalant’s expertise in design research and generative processes, combined with Kanika’s knowledge of sustainable architecture, has given the company its core ideology.

“Everything that moves us emotionally inspires us. We are inspired by complex interactions in nature. The use of parametric tools and physical modelling are the main ways in which we evolved our designs” say the studio’s directors.

They use, above all, materials such as metal, wood, bamboo, paper, etc. in ways that have not generally been explored in the wider Indian design context. They believe strongly in working collaboratively and for each project they try to bring in people who have expertise in specific aspects of design and construction. They pride themselves on designing and delivering projects that can be iconic and significant.

Jwalant Mahadevwala

After gaining professional experience at Mozaic Design in Goa and Mistry Architects in Bangalore, Jwalant pursued a Masters in Architecture and Urbanism at the AA (Architectural Association) in London, Design Research Lab. Jwalant furthered his professional experience at Zaha Hadid Architects in London over the next 4 years, working on several prestigious projects, including the Petroleum Research Institute in Saudi Arabia, from concept/concept phase to construction, as well as a unique opportunity to exclusively direct and design a sculpture for a private art collector in Chicago.

Since setting up the Andblack design studio in 2011, he has been responsible for projects such as the Kevdi eco-tourism camp in Surat district, the paper tube pavilion in Delhi, the wooden canopy in Pune and several residences in Surat and Ahmedabad. In addition to his professional work, Jwalant runs a design studio on “Generative Processes in Design” with Masters students at the School of Interior Design, CEPT University, Ahmedabad.
His main passion lies in the pursuit of the design process. He enjoys experimenting, prototyping and developing systems that can form good design solutions. His rigour for “design of space” versus “design of place” is what sets him apart from others. For him, unbridled creativity and an energetic approach to each project are a must. Besides architecture, artistic photography and travelling the world is what keeps him active.

Kanika Agarwal

A graduate of the prestigious AA School of Architecture in London, Kanika has been practicing in the field of architecture and design for over 10 years. After gaining experience in London at Hopkins Architects for about 4 years, Kanika, along with her partner, set up her own design firm and black design studio in Ahmedabad. Kanika has a keen interest in environmental design and natural materials. She has researched and explored materials such as bamboo, paper and earth, and furthered her passion by working at the Earth Institute in Auroville for a year and at Ashok B Lall Architects in Delhi as an intern before pursuing higher education.

Kanika has an eye for detail in design and explores her passion for combining luxury with an understated, bohemian aesthetic through her various architectural and interior projects at andblack design studio. His attention to space planning, proportions and detailing means that he strives for perfection at the end of every design project. Her love of painting and writing is what keeps her inspired.

During her time at Hopkins Architects in London, she also pursued her passion for independent curating at the Central St. Martins College of Art Summer School in London. In addition to her work at andblack, Kanika teaches sustainable design to Masters students at the School of Interior Design, CEPT University, Ahmedabad. Kanika has also been president of Ahmedabad Ladies Circle 64 and an active member of Ladies Circle India. She is also a member of YFLO, Ahmedabad chapter.

Project by Jwalant Mahadevwala