The Rooted Rail

“A place of learning that connects the hills to the horizon.”

In the tribal landscapes of Dediyapada, Gujarat, The Rooted Rail stands as a humble yet powerful response to the need for contextually grounded education. Designed as an Ashram Shala — a residential learning space — the project is both school and sanctuary, inviting tribal children into a world of knowledge, care, and collective growth.

Most of these children have never travelled beyond their forested hills. The image of a railway wagon becomes a symbol of both curiosity and possibility — a form they recognize, yet have never ridden. The architecture adopts this idea not as mimicry, but as metaphor — celebrating movement while staying rooted in culture, land, and values.

In the mornings, the centre welcomes children into open classrooms, playful courtyards, and gardens where lessons unfold through soil, sun, and storytelling. In the evenings, it transforms into a community space, where elders gather, knowledge is shared, and everyday learning continues across generations.

Constructed from local materials using self-build methods, the project is designed to be adaptable, affordable, and owned by its people. More than a physical structure, The Rooted Rail is a vessel for life lessons — one that gently carries its children forward, without ever detaching them from their origins.