Nepal School Project
Cultural 2025
Location
Kathmandu Valley, Nepal
Collaboration
Fernando Ferrão, principal architect
Type
International competition
Organizers
ArchStorming
Karmayog Foundation
Nepal Rising
Status
Completed
Size
1800,00 M2
Kathmandu Valley, Nepal
Collaboration
Fernando Ferrão, principal architect
Type
International competition
Organizers
ArchStorming
Karmayog Foundation
Nepal Rising
Status
Completed
Size
1800,00 M2
THE SCHOOL MADE OF BOXES AND VOIDS
My experience in Nepal, where I spent about a month traveling and getting to know its people and traditions, was essential for understanding the cultural and environmental context. I observed local crafts such as ceramics, sculpture, weaving, carpentry, and jewelry-making, which reflect Nepal’s rich identity and influenced the project’s design.
School is often our first contact with architecture. It’s through this space that we begin to intuitively grasp scale, materials, and spatial relationships. This project embraces that idea, aiming to offer students a meaningful first architectural experience.
The design balances intuition and logic, organizing and activating the school environment. The building follows a rectangular perimeter, formed by volumes of different heights arranged in an orderly way. These volumes rest on a platform or slope, which offers a solid base, protects from flooding, and adapts to the terrain.
Set in a natural landscape, the school responds to Nepal’s climate and blends with the local context. The design addresses regional needs, especially the variation in temperatures between lower and higher altitudes.
The diversity of programmatic functions led to the creation of spaces with distinct scales and identities. The exterior’s contrasting heights create a striking visual presence. Inside, two open-air spaces—the main courtyard and the access area—serve as social and recreational zones, featuring ramps and stairs for movement and interaction.
The construction is planned in three phases to allow flexibility based on resources. The first phase will include the essential spaces, with future expansions following as needed. On the competition board, the project is primarily represented as if all phases of the building's expansion have already been completed.
Beyond being a school, the building is designed to act as a civic center in case of disaster, offering a safe and welcoming place for the community. The construction will be accompanied by a structural project that ensures the safety and stability of the building, particularly in relation to seismic risks in the region.
The structure will use concrete, with adobe walls that provide natural thermal insulation. Interiors will feature exposed concrete floors, and the playground will have a dirt surface. Standardized doors and windows throughout the building will reduce costs and simplify phased construction.
My experience in Nepal, where I spent about a month traveling and getting to know its people and traditions, was essential for understanding the cultural and environmental context. I observed local crafts such as ceramics, sculpture, weaving, carpentry, and jewelry-making, which reflect Nepal’s rich identity and influenced the project’s design.
School is often our first contact with architecture. It’s through this space that we begin to intuitively grasp scale, materials, and spatial relationships. This project embraces that idea, aiming to offer students a meaningful first architectural experience.
The design balances intuition and logic, organizing and activating the school environment. The building follows a rectangular perimeter, formed by volumes of different heights arranged in an orderly way. These volumes rest on a platform or slope, which offers a solid base, protects from flooding, and adapts to the terrain.
Set in a natural landscape, the school responds to Nepal’s climate and blends with the local context. The design addresses regional needs, especially the variation in temperatures between lower and higher altitudes.
The diversity of programmatic functions led to the creation of spaces with distinct scales and identities. The exterior’s contrasting heights create a striking visual presence. Inside, two open-air spaces—the main courtyard and the access area—serve as social and recreational zones, featuring ramps and stairs for movement and interaction.
The construction is planned in three phases to allow flexibility based on resources. The first phase will include the essential spaces, with future expansions following as needed. On the competition board, the project is primarily represented as if all phases of the building's expansion have already been completed.
Beyond being a school, the building is designed to act as a civic center in case of disaster, offering a safe and welcoming place for the community. The construction will be accompanied by a structural project that ensures the safety and stability of the building, particularly in relation to seismic risks in the region.
The structure will use concrete, with adobe walls that provide natural thermal insulation. Interiors will feature exposed concrete floors, and the playground will have a dirt surface. Standardized doors and windows throughout the building will reduce costs and simplify phased construction.
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