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The Three Walled Home

This project was an experiment both with the architecture as well as the traditional patronized model of architectural practice.

 

The 10 acre farm at Mulshi topographically consisted of 3 hills with two seasonal streams flowing through the valleys. The idea was to design a home off the grid that encouraged living amongst nature.

 

The design consists of 3 basalt walls that are habitable, each of them anchoring a space. The entire Mulshi belt has a basalt strata and quite a lot of stone was dug up from the site itself.

 

The living space, dining space, sleeping spaces, bathing spaces are independent structures and one is forced to step out to move from one to the other. The materials are local, local wood frames, brick walls with lime plaster outside, mud and cow dung plaster inside, kadappah and karvi screens that allow play of light and much needed ventilation. The roof line differs from mangalore tile to laadi koba roof that provides a stunning star studded open sky sleeping space in the summers.

 

The entire farm runs on  solar energy. The water tank structure holds a pond below to soak up in the summers. The central space changes form seasonally from herb garden to a village chowk. A meditation pavilion and tree house are built in bamboo.

There were no drafted drawings for this project, every idea was sketched out on site. All interior spaces and fittings were hand constructed and finished by the circle of friends, families and well wishers. The entire process was so rewarding that the plumbing team was inspired to create furniture, the carpenters were painting, villagers hand crafted lamps from local driftwood. Architects, clients, contracting team, villagers all were working with their hands.

 

Location: Mulshi, Maharashtra

Status:

Architecture completed 2019

Farming consultancy ongoing

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