Aayush Arya, Owner &Principal Designer, 6Hues Architecture Studio, undertakes technical renovation of Delhi Public School in Siliguri

The job involved renovation of a 6,000 sq.ft. administrative block of DPS Siliguri, Dagapur, in Siliguri, West Bengal, comprising the main reception lobby, visitor lobby, secondary reception, principal’s office, accountants’ office, and conference room. The brief was clear: the administrative block needed to reflect the stature of a high-end educational institute. The vision was to create a more lavish, modern, and impressive environment while maintaining functionality.

One of the key site advantages was the potential for introducing natural light into the reception lobby — an opportunity that was previously under-utilized due to a closed brick façade and a small void. Before renovation, the reception lobby had a small, under-utilised void and a completely closed front wall with a wooden entrance gate that blocked natural light. The void did not contribute meaningfully to the ambience.

Post-renovation, the void was enlarged to nearly two and a half times its original size by carefully breaking the existing floor slab. The main entrance wall was transformed by replacing the brick structure with a joint curtain glazing system, creating a bold modern glass façade. This dramatically improved natural light penetration and visual impact.

This was a structural and design-intensive renovation rather than a surface refresh. Key interventions included:

• Enlarging the central void
• Breaking and restructuring portions of the floor slab
• Replacing the main entrance wall with curtain glazing
• Creating a new modern glass façade
• Introducing double-glazed units with solar-reflective technology to allow natural light without excessive heat gain
• Custom ceiling detailing using WPC rafters in a double-height space

A unique design challenge was that the building had octagonal and hexagonal planning, with no 90-degree corners. This required highly customised solutions. Additionally, WPC rafters (typically ceiling applications) were engineered to turn 90 degrees to form a vertical partition along the first floor viewing gallery, despite their structural limitations.

One of the most striking elements is the custom stretch-ceiling chandelier positioned at the intersection of the hallway connecting the primary reception to the principal’s office and conference room. Below it, a spherical model is displayed on a rotating pedestal, allowing visitors to experience it dynamically as they pass through.

The double-height reception space with hazelnut-toned WPC rafters and abundant natural light elevates the administrative block, transforming it into a bold, contemporary statement befitting a premier institution. The approximate renovation cost was Rs. 3.6 crore.

By undertaking a structural and design-intensive renovation approach, rather than just a surface refresh, we successfully created a modern and an impressive environment.