NPSP
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Craft School
Nepal School Project

Craft School

The Craft School is a participatory design and construction initiative that places students at the center of creating their own learning environment. It recognizes that education is not only about what happens inside the classroom, but also how the classroom comes to be.

Nepal School Project

PROGRAM: Children’s School

CONTEXT: Nepal

SITE: Pokhara

TEAM: Bryan Maddock, Grace Infante

ORGANIZER: Nepal School Project

YEAR:
2025
AWARDS:

Finalist

NEWS:
6/11/25
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Nepal School Project
Nepal Craft School - Finalist

Competitions

Institutional

Simple diagram of the various student-inspired craft details for building the schoolSimple diagram of the various student-inspired craft details for building the schoolSimple diagram of the various student-inspired craft details for building the schoolSimple diagram of the various student-inspired craft details for building the school

Students help craft the lower roof using recycled plastic bottles. Bottles are cut in half, organized like a tile roof, and connected to a frame. Students help fill buckets and bags with local earth to build the classroom walls. Earthbag construction is simple, strong, and uses available site materials. Students paint bamboo doors with simple element-based shapes. These details help personalize each classroom and give it a unique spatial identity.

Simple diagram of the various student-inspired craft details for building the school
Simple diagram of the various student-inspired craft details for building the school

PROJECT IMAGES

Interior classroom during a lesson showing the layered double roof structureInterior classroom during a lesson showing the layered double roof structureInterior classroom during a lesson showing the layered double roof structureInterior classroom during a lesson showing the layered double roof structure
Site plan of the Nepal School showing the repeated classrooms and mixed programsSite plan of the Nepal School showing the repeated classrooms and mixed programsSite plan of the Nepal School showing the repeated classrooms and mixed programsSite plan of the Nepal School showing the repeated classrooms and mixed programs
Interior courtyard of the school complex with a garden and spaces for classesInterior courtyard of the school complex with a garden and spaces for classesInterior courtyard of the school complex with a garden and spaces for classesInterior courtyard of the school complex with a garden and spaces for classes
Wall section of a typical earthbag wall used for the classroom spacesWall section of a typical earthbag wall used for the classroom spacesWall section of a typical earthbag wall used for the classroom spacesWall section of a typical earthbag wall used for the classroom spaces
Elevation perspective showing the school profile related to the mountains of NepalElevation perspective showing the school profile related to the mountains of NepalElevation perspective showing the school profile related to the mountains of NepalElevation perspective showing the school profile related to the mountains of Nepal
Paired elevation and section drawings of the double roof school structuresPaired elevation and section drawings of the double roof school structuresPaired elevation and section drawings of the double roof school structuresPaired elevation and section drawings of the double roof school structures
Reading rooms are places where students can find their own space to learn alone or in groupsReading rooms are places where students can find their own space to learn alone or in groupsReading rooms are places where students can find their own space to learn alone or in groupsReading rooms are places where students can find their own space to learn alone or in groups
Exploded chunk diagram of the various construction components for the repeated systemExploded chunk diagram of the various construction components for the repeated systemExploded chunk diagram of the various construction components for the repeated systemExploded chunk diagram of the various construction components for the repeated system
Series of diagrams explaining the functioning of the school complexSeries of diagrams explaining the functioning of the school complexSeries of diagrams explaining the functioning of the school complexSeries of diagrams explaining the functioning of the school complex
Examples of how students can customize the school and be involved in the processExamples of how students can customize the school and be involved in the processExamples of how students can customize the school and be involved in the processExamples of how students can customize the school and be involved in the process
Perspective view showing playgrounds and blended indoor-outdoor learningPerspective view showing playgrounds and blended indoor-outdoor learningPerspective view showing playgrounds and blended indoor-outdoor learningPerspective view showing playgrounds and blended indoor-outdoor learning
Simple diagram of the various student-inspired craft details for building the schoolSimple diagram of the various student-inspired craft details for building the schoolSimple diagram of the various student-inspired craft details for building the schoolSimple diagram of the various student-inspired craft details for building the school
The arrival platform and orchard welcoming students to the schoolThe arrival platform and orchard welcoming students to the schoolThe arrival platform and orchard welcoming students to the schoolThe arrival platform and orchard welcoming students to the school

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