Sagebrook International School in Nanakramguda, Hyderabad, has opened a campus designed around biophilic architecture, neuro-inclusion and children's wellbeing.

A new approach to school design has arrived in Hyderabad, where architecture, nature and child development come together to create a learning environment designed around how children experience the world.

Sagebrook International School, which opened in Nanakramguda in July 2026, has introduced what it describes as Hyderabad's first-of-its-kind biophilic and neuro-inclusive school campus.

Created in partnership with Whitgift School UK, the campus has been designed to make the physical environment an active part of a child's learning and development rather than simply a place where education takes place.

Designed by Globally Recognised School Architect Prakash Nair

The campus has been designed by Prakash Nair, the founder of Education Design International and a globally recognised architect specialising in educational spaces.

Known for challenging the traditional classroom-and-corridor model, Nair's approach focuses on designing schools around how children learn, interact and develop.

At Sagebrook, wellbeing has been incorporated into the architecture itself.

The school's design philosophy centres around what it calls “regulation over control” — creating spaces that help children feel calm, safe and able to regulate their emotions rather than simply expecting them to remain still and conform to a rigid learning environment.

Classrooms Designed for Calm and Curiosity

Natural light, warm materials and tactile elements form an important part of the campus experience.

Classrooms feature sunlight, birch ply, textured surfaces and carefully planned lighting to create a warm and comfortable environment.

The campus also includes quiet corners and refuge nooks positioned between more active areas.

These spaces are designed to give children opportunities to pause, self-regulate and reflect before returning to learning activities.

According to the school's approach, supporting emotional regulation can help children become more focused, curious and engaged learners.

Learning Through Nature, Food and Sensory Play

One of the defining features of the campus is its focus on experiential learning.

A kitchen garden and Children's Kitchen allow students to engage with food from growing ingredients to preparing and understanding them.

The campus also includes a sand pit for open-ended and sensory play.

A koi pond introduces water and living ecosystems into the daily school environment and reflects the school's “Flow Like a River” philosophy.

Together, these spaces aim to connect children more closely with nature while encouraging exploration and hands-on learning.

Sustainable Materials and Healthier Indoor Spaces

The school's environmental approach also extends to construction materials and infrastructure.

The campus uses low-VOC finishes, materials with recycled content and energy-efficient lighting.

These choices are intended to reduce environmental impact while supporting healthier indoor spaces for children.

The campus has also been designed with modular and adaptable spaces that can evolve as educational needs change.

‘Neuro-Inclusion Is Built Into Every Space’

For Head of School Zoe L. Hauser, neuro-inclusion is not something limited to specialised facilities.

“Neuro-inclusion is not a special room at the end of a hall. It is calm, and safety is built into every space a child moves through.”

The school's founders say the goal was to rethink what a contemporary school campus in India could offer children.

“We did not set out to build a beautiful school, or one more institution to be managed,” said Praveen Raju, who founded Sagebrook with Eshita Kalidindi.

“We built a place designed to be felt, and to raise the bar for what a school in India can be.”

Admissions Open for AY 2027-28

Guided by its values of RISE with Freedom and Joy, Sagebrook International School welcomed its first cohort of students from Beginnings to Grade 3 in July 2026.

The school is now accepting admissions for the 2027-28 academic year.

With its combination of biophilic architecture, neuro-inclusive spaces and experiential learning, the new campus represents a growing shift in education towards environments designed not only to teach children but also to support how they feel, think and develop.