Pradhan farmhouse, Pali

This project is part of a community associated with a school based on alternative learning principles. It is located near Khopoli in the western ghats.

The design brief was to build a home that will also double up as an off campus stay for the school students. Large open interior common spaces, inside - out connectivity and a single cozy bedroom space are a few characteristics of the house.

The material palette consists of local exposed bricks, lime and surkhi mortars and plasters, lime floor and timber framed roof. A key feature is the utilisation of reclaimed wood for the columns, roof and door windows of the house - giving it a unique character. All craftsmen hailed from a local village.

The structural system is timber framed, with one and a half brick thick walls that were raised later, acting as an infill. There is also a cozy attic space that was added later, to double up as a kids' room.

Material palette

Foundation and plinth: Local basalt stone in stabilised mud mortar

Walls: Local bricks in lime surkhi mortar

Finishes: Lime surkhi plaster and pointing

Flooring: Lime oxide floor, ceramic tiles for wet areas, natural stone for verandas

Roof: Timber framed roof with a timber boarding, waterproof sheet and finished with clay roof tiles

View of hall - dining area - exposed brick walls with lime whitewash. Large opening at the end provides an insode-out connection with the veranda. Arch above the opening with glass bottle jali helps in load distribution

View from outside - showing covered verandas connected with open walkways. Built-in seatings in the verandas are flanked by repurposed old timber columns.

Typical wall detail - timber framed structure that is visible from inside, interspersed with old repurposed windows. Jalis under the roof overhang help in ensuring good ventilation and escape of heat from above.

View of the bedroom with a bay window flanked with niches in the wall

Storage that is built into the wall of the kitchen

View of the house from entrance gate - showing central entrance veranda

A feature wall on one side of the entrance veranda

Built-in seating in the entrance veranda with racks for shoe storage. The entrance veranda can also double up as a large outdoor dining area

A cozy attic that was added later not only functions as an additional room for the children, but also helps keep the spaces below cooler in the summers

View of main door and bedroom lobby with attic above - the volume of the attic is carved out from the space created under the sloping roof. Attic overlooks the hall from above