The Centre is located in Bagman village, near Calcutta, and was sponsored by UNICEF and the Government of West Bengal as an experimental low-cost project that is culturally and climatically approperiate to the region. A crucial element in the design of the centre was the participatory process of building involving local people and workers from Unnayan, a voulentary organisation based in Calcutta.

The structure consists of a large hall with a pitchd tile roof on wooden rafters with all sides open to allow breeze flow in the hot humid weather. The roof slope is 30° to ensure that the roof will be pressed down rather than lifted off by high winds in this cyclone-prone area. 

The central meeting place consists of a large verandah that protects against sun and rain, yet allows breezes to pass through. The corner storage areas, where educational and medical equipment are kept, are enclosed with half-brick thick walls. Single brick columns with cross-bracing in timber protect the kitchen against high winds. The kitchen and a lockable store room, placed at diagonal ends of the square hall, provide extra rigidity to the roof structure.