Cocoon Pre-primary Extension at Bloomingdale International School

In a region where conventional education models still dominate the architectural landscape, the Cocoon Pre-primary Extension at Bloomingdale International School emerges as a radical rethinking of early learning environments. Designed by andblack design studio, this 4,000 sq. ft. preschool extension challenges entrenched norms through parametric architecture, fluid spatial planning, and a strong integration of landscape, structure, and pedagogy.

Bloomingdale International School, the only international school in the state of Andhra Pradesh, is driven by a vision that places unconventional education at its core. The brief for the pre-primary extension called not only for additional space to accommodate nearly 100 young learners, but for an architectural language capable of initiating a paradigm shift in early childhood education. The result is a building that redefines what a preschool can be: spatially, experientially, and emotionally.

Landscape as Architecture

Located adjacent to the existing school building, the extension is connected via a sunken courtyard that responds sensitively to the site’s natural topography. This courtyard gradually ascends toward the new structure, evoking the sensation of climbing a small hill. Rather than acting as a mere connector, it becomes an active spatial device: functioning alternately as a playground, outdoor classroom, amphitheater, or even a puddle pool, blurring distinctions between learning and play.

This seamless fusion of built form and landscape defines the project’s core philosophy. Instead of imposing a rigid architectural object on the site, the design allows the building itself to become a continuation of the terrain, dissolving boundaries between interior and exterior environments.

Rethinking the Classroom

Departing from the traditional box-like classroom typology, the preschool’s 3,000 sq. ft. indoor area is conceived as a series of fluid, interconnected learning spaces. These environments encourage free movement, interaction, and exploration, qualities essential to early childhood development. Full-height glass panels replace solid walls, reinforcing transparency and visual continuity while allowing natural light to flood the interiors.

Skylights puncture the undulating roof above, further dissolving the conventional notion of enclosure. As a result, children experience classrooms not as static rooms, but as dynamic, ever-changing spaces shaped by light, shadow, and movement throughout the day.

A Cocooned Form

The most defining architectural gesture of the project is its curved, undulating roof, which resembles rolling hills or ocean waves when viewed from a distance. Covered in turf, the roof visually merges with the surrounding landscape, transforming the building into a green landmark within the campus. From afar, glimpses of the landscape beyond reinforce the illusion that the structure is part of the terrain itself.

Up close, the architectural intent becomes more intimate. The children inhabit the space as if sheltered within a protective cocoon, a metaphor that inspired the project’s name. Notably, the design achieves visual richness without relying on bright colors, a deliberate departure from typical preschool aesthetics. Instead, form, materiality, and spatial complexity generate curiosity and engagement.

Structure, Technology, and Craft

The roof’s fluid geometry was developed using computational design tools, allowing for a structurally efficient yet visually expressive form. Remarkably, the expansive roof spans an unobstructed interior without internal columns or partitions, creating flexible learning spaces below.

To achieve this within a constrained budget, the project relies heavily on prefabricated construction techniques. The structural framework consists of bent circular hollow steel sections assembled using precisely fabricated junction plates, each uniquely designed to accommodate the roof’s curvature. Variations in junction heights generate the smooth undulating profile, while a ferrocement shell forms the continuous external skin above the steel structure.

From the inside, exposed structural elements contrast with the lush green exterior, revealing the building’s tectonic honesty. Natural light filtering through skylights accentuates the curvature of the roof, animating the interiors and introducing a sense of wonder and discovery. The ever-shifting interplay of light and shadow becomes an integral part of the learning experience.

Redefining Educational Architecture

The Cocoon Pre-primary Extension stands as a compelling example of how architecture can actively shape pedagogy. Through its parametric form, fluid spatial organization, integration of landscape, and innovative structural system, the project challenges the notion of the “typical school building.”

All photographs are works of  Vinay Panjwani