A groundbreaking educational facility has been completed in Hiwali, a small rural settlement nestled deep within India's Satmala mountain range, approximately 70 kilometers from Nashik city. The new primary school, designed by architectural firm pk_iNCEPTiON, represents a transformative approach to rural education infrastructure, replacing a temporary shelter that previously served the community's educational needs.

The 355-square-meter project, completed in 2025, serves over 70 children from nearby settlements in the Western Ghats region. The school was initiated through a collaborative effort between Give Welfare Organization and Armstrong Robotics & Technologies, with the architectural team led by Pooja Khairnar, alongside Shantanu Tribhuvan and Bhavik Chopada. The design team included Tanishq Tejnani and Swasti Rangani, while technical implementation was overseen by Swarup Sope, Shreya Chandsare, and Tejaswini Kawale.

What makes this educational institution particularly remarkable is its association with Keshav Gavit, an innovative teacher renowned throughout the region for his unconventional teaching methods. Gavit's students demonstrate extraordinary abilities, including the capacity to write with both hands and memorize over 1,100 mathematical tables. The school operates as more than a traditional educational facility, functioning like a comprehensive daycare center that remains open 365 days a year for 10 hours daily, integrating academic instruction with essential life skills through group-based and activity-centered learning approaches.

The architectural design draws inspiration from Louis Kahn's theoretical framework of "TO and THROUGH" spaces, emphasizing the critical importance of transitional areas and how buildings integrate meaningfully with their natural surroundings. The design process prioritized creating navigation pathways that would be both enjoyable and inspiring for young learners, transforming the educational experience into a journey of discovery.

Situated at the summit of terraced farmland, the school site presents unique challenges and opportunities. Accessible only via a 50-foot hiking trail from the village road, the narrow strip of land is bordered by mountain terrain to the northwest and terraced farming slopes to the southeast. The design begins with a protective water moat system that shields the facility from mountain runoff while serving as a functional landscape element.

The architectural solution features modular building blocks arranged diagonally to accommodate future expansion toward the mountain while aligning with prevailing wind patterns. These blocks, housing the office, computer room, science room, projector room, and library, adopt an aerodynamic U-shaped profile specifically suited to their windward mountain setting. Between the protective moat and the main structures, architects crafted a distinctive zigzag plinth that channels water runoff while creating multiple nodes that transform into indoor amphitheaters for both learning activities and recreational play.

The building's spatial dynamics are enhanced through carefully crafted plinth work and gently sloping rooflines, with ceiling heights varying between 5 and 8 feet to create an appropriately scaled environment for children. Natural daylight enters the facility through strategically placed gaps between building blocks for informal gathering areas, while semi-circular courtyards bring light into formal classroom spaces, with these curved elements derived from the building's distinctive roof profile.

The school embodies a philosophy of continuous, interconnected learning spaces that offer flexibility while maintaining focused educational zones. To maximize multifunctionality, the design incorporates folding doors throughout the facility, wall-mounted blackboards, and local stone flooring that doubles as writable surfaces for interactive learning activities. This approach eliminates traditional classroom boundaries, instead creating fluid learning environments that adapt to various educational needs.

Structurally, the building employs a load-bearing system featuring exposed brick walls that facilitate easy installation of educational boards and materials. A floating flat roof design improves natural ventilation throughout the facility while providing an expansive canvas for artistic expression on its underside. The elevated plinth features traditional cow dung flooring, ensuring comfortable surfaces for students who may need to sit or rest on the ground during activities.

The design philosophy centers on creating spaces that truly belong to both students and educators. For students, the facility offers varied spatial scales, open learning zones, flowing stepped areas, and activity spaces that encourage exploration and creativity. Multiple arrival and exit points allow children to create their own educational territories, fostering a sense of ownership and belonging within the learning environment.

For educators like Keshav Gavit, the design provides distinct yet interconnected areas that support diverse teaching methodologies while allowing a single educator to manage the entire school independently. The absence of traditional classroom divisions enables flexible teaching approaches and encourages innovative educational practices that have made this rural school a model for others in the region.

The project represents a significant investment in rural education infrastructure, demonstrating how thoughtful architectural design can transform educational opportunities in remote communities. By integrating local materials, traditional building techniques, and modern educational philosophy, the Hiwali School serves as a beacon of hope for rural education development throughout India's mountainous regions, proving that geographical isolation need not limit educational excellence or architectural innovation.