Most buildings just consume resources. What if a school could actually balance its own energy and water needs?

That question sits at the heart of Solar Decathlon India (SDI) 2025–26. And Team Tattva from Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University (JNAFAU), Hyderabad, has taken it seriously.

Working with Sthapati Architects as their project partner and collaborating with Hydromo on the water systems, these students have designed a thoughtful, net-zero-ready campus for Good Shepherd School in Kavuru, near Chilakaluripeta, Andhra Pradesh.

Taking a Close Look at the Real Context

Good Shepherd School has an enrolment of approximately 1,200 students and 90 staff members. Good Shepherd School is located in a warm and humid environment. The client requested three connected buildings – Junior, Administration and Main Academic – to provide a sense of simplicity, comfort and ease of maintenance and be ready for the future. The goal is for the buildings to have “The Simple/Honest Buildings”, or not complex/child-friendly architecture but rather, architecture that respects the local culture and financial resources of the school.

The team of Tattva consisted of 10 final year architecture students and were gathering a community of architects to approach their project through a fresh lens.Led by Pooja Nandigam, they divided responsibilities across energy, water, health, affordability, resilience, and more — then brought everything together through constant discussion and iteration.