Rishi Valley School

Madanapalle, India

Photo © Manoj Sudhakaran

Student Houses + Dormitories

Architects: Flying Elephant Studio

Location: Rishi Valley Education Center, Madanapalle, Chittoor District, 517352 Madanapalle, India
Year: 2009
Client: Krishnamurthi Foundation India, Vandana and Basant Podar
Architects: Giacomo Mion, Kiran Chandra, Iype Chacko, Rajesh Renganathan
Structure: Manjunath & Co
Contractors: J Kumar Constructions
MEP: Yash Consultant
Awards: Jury Commendation, AR awards for Emerging Architecture, Architectural Review UK, 2009

The commission was for the design of buildings to house the senior girls' hostel and teacher's residences. A central courtyard is the key element around which individual structures are arranged. In a region where water is often scarce, a rainwater harvesting system finds visual expression in the architectural and landscape detailing.

Dormitories are open on two sides allowing for maximum cross-ventilation as well as visual transparency from the court to the greenery around. Composite screens of steel and local stone that create climatic buffers while providing security, wrap the external facades.