Swapnapoorti, Chakan

Swapnapoorti is a farmhouse situated near the Chakan MIDC, amidst agricultural fields - with the village on one side and the Bhama river on the other. It was designed as a weekend home for an Ayurvedic doctor practicing in the USA. The design includes a consultation room that the client wished to use for the local villagers. It also doubles up as a bread-and-breakfast facility, mainly for the corporates / businessmen visiting the MIDC.

The structure is G+1 storeyed, with a double height open living - dining - kitchen space. One can enjoy the view of the surroundings from the first floor balcony. Besides the common areas, the house consists of three bedrooms and a hobby room, with a total builtup area of 2500 sq.ft.

Like the local construction practice, the material palette included basalt stone (uncoursed) with lime surkhi mortar for foundation, plinth and ground floor walls. The first floor and internal walls, arches etc were built in brick with mud mortar. The house is plastered using lime and surkhi from the inside, and pointed with lime surkhi mortar from the outside.

Roof is made using timber from Indian Laurel tree (Ain), with local Jamun board ceiling and a waterproof sheet, under the clay roof tiles.