rammed earth and timber shape up CHYBIK + KRISTOF's mulbekh school in northern india

CHYBIK + KRISTOF to combat lack of education in mulbekh

CHYBIK + KRISTOF, in collaboration with the Czech NGO Himalayan Patron and Spring Dales Public School, has unveiled its rammed earth and timber design for a new preschool in Mulbekh, North India. The project is the first stage in a broader campus cultural preservation masterplan that will provide good-quality education to combat the region’s challenges, designed with context-sensitive architecture rooted in local practices. Children, and especially girls, from remote, ethnic minority communities in the North Indian mountains are disproportionately affected by a lack of education. The harsh winters, heavy snowfall, high mountainous context and a lack of transport have driven local children into the big cities and sparked erosion of the region’s rich culture. This new masterplan for Mulbekh is an opportunity for many children who have never had the chance to go to school.

all visuals © CHYBIK + KRISTOF

context-sensitive architecture rooted in local practices

The new buildings designed by the CHYBIK + KRISTOF team will accommodate 75 students, with a network of flat accessible spaces that will connect three interior classrooms and an exterior roof classroom. Flat spaces are a rarity in the mountainous Mulbekh region but are essential for important community gatherings in Ladakhi culture, which take place often more than once a day.

Mulbekh School will feature local construction techniques refined with years of local tradition and experience, paired with principles of modern physics to ensure children can enjoy comfortable access to the campus for a longer school year. This has previously been a challenge in the mountainous climate, but the new preschool will have a passive south-facing design, meaning it can be naturally self-heating and cooling during extreme winter and summer weather. The southern wall, largely glazed, maximises natural light and solar heating, while the northern wall provides storage and a window for cross-ventilation. All these measures will also keep energy use low.

Mulbekh School to open in Northern India

Paying homage to the Ladakhi region’s architecture, each design choice is a characterful reflection of the local topography while materials will be sustainably sourced. Traditional building materials including rammed earth and timber will be used, while horizontal wooden joints are incorporated into the structures to enhance earthquake resistance, helping to distribute seismic forces more evenly. The beige-brown color of rammed earth mimics the surrounding hills, whilst blue fabric canopies reflect the color of the sky – all to ensure that the school harmonizes with its natural environment and is sensitively rooted in Mulbekh’s history.

‘The climate, topography and a lack of transport have long been a barrier to local education, but a new climate-conscious design – refined with years of local tradition, paired with principles of modern physics – will ensure the longevity of Mulbekh for many years to come,’ concludes Ondrej Chybik, co-founder of CHYBIK + KRISTOF.

combining rammed earth and timber