Located in the Alchi Valley along the banks of the Indus River, this school is designed to respond to Ladakh’s extreme cold and fragile landscape with minimal environmental impact. The building is partially embedded into the ground to provide thermal protection while preserving open ground space. A roof supported by locally sourced poplar wood trusses transforms into an amphitheatre, oriented to capture southern sunlight and shield against harsh northern winds. Using excavated earth and stone, the design reinforces local craftsmanship. Spatial zoning places classrooms to the south and buffer spaces to the north, promoting thermal efficiency and flexible, community-oriented learning.