mawi design reorganizes Kavundampalayam Government School
Located in a dense residential area of Coimbatore, India, Kavundampalayam Government School had developed over time as a series of disconnected classroom blocks. The spaces between them, corridors, circulation paths, and residual voids, remained underutilized, despite accommodating a significant portion of daily activity. The renovation project by Mawi Design reconsiders these in-between areas as integral components of the learning environment, reorganizing the campus around movement, interaction, and informal use.
The school design introduces the concept of the corridor as an ‘extended classroom’. Existing narrow passages are opened and reconfigured to allow light, ventilation, and visual continuity, enabling them to function as spaces for gathering, play, and informal learning. At ground level, previously isolated buildings are linked through a continuous linear spine described as a ‘street’, which connects classrooms, shared facilities, and outdoor areas into a coherent spatial sequence. This central route organizes circulation while supporting multiple forms of use.
Vertical connections play a key role in structuring movement across the campus. A combined ramp and stair element links different levels and acts as an active spatial node. It supports both circulation and occupation, accommodating physical activity as well as informal teaching. On the upper level, a corridor extends toward a basketball court and reconnects to the ground through the ramp, forming a continuous loop that integrates movement, play, and access.
the school operates as a civic resource within a dense urban fabric | all images by Studio f/8
color, shared spaces, and planting reshape school environment
Material and environmental strategies by Mawi Design Studio reinforce the spatial transformation. Corridors are lined with louvred screens that provide shading, ventilation, and safety while maintaining openness. Color is applied as a system of orientation, assisting navigation across the campus. New planting is introduced along circulation routes to provide shade and re-establish environmental continuity. Dedicated areas for younger children, including an Anganwadi, are defined through enclosure while preserving visual connections to the wider campus.
The project also addresses the relationship between the school and its surrounding neighborhood. Communal spaces are designed to remain accessible outside school hours, extending the use of limited open space within the dense urban context. Through this approach, the school operates not only as an educational facility but also as a shared civic environment, where circulation, learning, and social interaction are closely interlinked.
color is used for wayfinding, helping students orient themselves across the campus
learning extends beyond classrooms into everyday movement
shared spaces extend the school’s role into the community
circulation paths are shaped around the site’s lost tree network
ground-level spine organizes daily movement and interaction
the campus creates an uninterrupted loop of circulation, learning, and play
louvred screens in vibrant hues line the corridors, filtering light and air while enhancing safety
informal learning unfolds within transitional spaces
corridors are reimagined as extended classrooms
campus operates as both learning environment and civic space
project info:
name: Kavundampalayam Government School
architect: Mawi Design | @mawidesign.india
design team: Malli Saravanan, Vijay Prakash, Akash Raj, Prabhakaran, Ajith Kumar, Ananya M, Anish, Aravindhan A, Kirte K C, Thamini, Keerthana, Anand Khumar
location: Coimbatore, India
photographer: Studio f/8 | @studio.f8_
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edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom
The post open corridors become classrooms as color and movement reshape an indian school campus appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.