Flood Affected School At Kelthan Village / UnTAG

Architects: unTAG
Area: 578 m² (6,222 ft²)
Year: 2024
Photographs: Yash Prabhu, Vibhu Viraj
Lead Architect: Tejesh Patil, Gauri Satam, Nikita Patil
Project Architect: Nikita Patil
Architect: Vibhu Viraj, Yash Prabhu
Project Coordination: Nitin Orayan, Learning Space Foundation NGO
Project Support: Urvashi Foundation, Mumbai, Jamnabai Narsee School, Mumbai
Structural Consultant: Nitesh Mishra
Project Manager: Vijay Patil, Yogesh Mali, Ravindra Jadhav
Metal Fabrication: Nilesh Panve
District: Palghar
Country: India

The Flood Affected School at Kelthan Village, a rural education center designed by unTAG in Kelthan, Maharashtra, has redefined the post-disaster rebuilding of government schools by implementing low-cost, resilient, and context-specific architecture following the 2019 floods. Designed in collaboration with a local NGO and built through a participatory process with the community, the project integrates passive solar strategies and flood-responsive planning. Completed in Phase 1, the elevated structure on stilts includes naturally ventilated classrooms, a multifunctional social space, and a community kitchen. The material strategy includes locally baked bricks in Rat-trap bond, recycled stone flooring, and filler slabs with earthen disks, reducing the carbon footprint and cost. Solar panels and insulated roofing support net-zero energy goals, while a biophilic façade and student-grown vegetable gardens encourage environmental engagement. Completed in 2020, the school fosters community resilience and has already increased student enrollment and local participation in education infrastructure.

Flood affected school at kelthan village / untag

Rebuilding Flood Resilience: Saraswati Vidyalaya, Kelthan – Saraswati Vidyalaya is a low-cost rural government school positioned along the banks of the Tansa River, catering to 180 students from grades 8 to 10 in the tribal village of Kelthan, located in Palghar, Maharashtra. The school was severely affected by the 2019 floods, during which it was partially submerged, leading to irreversible damage to the infrastructure and creating unsafe conditions for students and staff.

The process of rebuilding resilience began in 2020, when the architects, in collaboration with a local NGO, initiated an intervention through a participatory approach involving school teachers and students. The reconstruction was planned in two phases to allow regular classes to continue during construction while also supporting ongoing fundraising efforts.

The redesigned school, developed with careful consideration of the regional climate and contextual conditions, integrates solar passive design strategies. Positioned in the northeast corner of the 1-acre site, the built form allows for the maximum preservation of the school playground. Elevated on stilts to minimize resistance to floodwaters, the structure’s first floor in Phase 1 includes three naturally lit, cross-ventilated classrooms with a North-light roof, along with a staffroom, girls’ restroom, and toilets. These classrooms offer views of Mandakini Hill and surrounding paddy fields, creating a visually engaging environment for students. The ground floor accommodates a community kitchen that provides midday meals. Moreover, the stilted plinth creates a flexible social space that supports school functions, community events, medical camps, and awareness programs.

A locally sourced material palette enabled the project to achieve an exceptionally low construction cost of Rs. 1200 per ft² (13.5$ per ft²), while maintaining a minimal carbon footprint. The structure is built on a concrete framework, with the main body constructed using locally baked red bricks arranged in Rat-trap bond. This technique reduces the quantity of bricks required and enhances thermal insulation within the classrooms. Brick jalis placed at specific locations function as visual screens and promote natural airflow. On the ground floor, the filler-slab technique incorporates locally made earthen disks set in a fluid ceiling pattern, decreasing the volume of concrete used and introducing elements of vernacular expression.

Recycled Indian stone flooring, made using waste stones sourced at no cost from local vendors, was used to finish the ground floor in a layout inspired by the winding course of the Tansa River. Insulated puff panels installed in the roof maintain thermal comfort in the classrooms throughout the year. Roof-mounted solar panels enable the school to operate as a net-zero facility, meeting its energy needs independently. The façade, conceived as a biophilic interface, incorporates green planters as a key design feature, which are maintained by the students. Part of the surrounding open space has been cultivated by students to grow seasonal vegetables for use in midday meals. Students, together with their farmer parents, took part in the construction process through shramdaan, receiving practical training in alternative building techniques from the architects and contributing to the development of local skills.

Saraswati Vidyalaya now stands as a model for how rural schools can be re-envisioned and constructed with sensitivity, cost-efficiency, and architectural clarity. Phase 1 has resulted in significant social impact, marked by increased student enrollment and greater engagement from underprivileged tribal families in exercising their right to education. The project represents a conscious effort to uplift and empower the local community through local resources, with local participation, and for local benefit.