Architects:ShriAbodes

Area:850ft²

Year:2023

Photographs:Jino Sam

Manufacturers:EBCO,Rhinoceros

Design And Site Supervision:Srivarshini JM

Masonry:Deepu and Team

Welding:Haridas, Unni

City:Aliparambu

Country:India

Text description provided by the architects. Shwasam, denoting breath, is an endeavor to build a breathable structure that pulsates with life as it merges with the scenic surroundings of the site. The building is unassuming and camouflaged in the midtones that the tropical landscape affords. A passerby may casually stroll into the lush green surroundings of the farm, Greenara, and spot a structure that looks cozy and inviting.

The intriguing mud structure compels one to go down a few flights of steps to stop by and breathe in the fresh air, probably to relax and rejuvenate. This welcoming abode has a central main hall which is flanked by a semi-basement store on one side and a small sit-out cum co-working space on the other. The passive design strategies and the choice of materials make “Shwasam” well-lit and breezy during the day and cozy and comfortable at night. The material palette predominantly includes various locally available materials like laterite waste soil, red soil, bamboo, stone, Mangalore tiles, waste wood, old doors, repurposed steel sections (from the old scrap at the site), etc.

Using techniques like dry rubble masonry, rammed earth and shuttered debris walls, terrazzo and rammed earth flooring, and stone flooring, this building aims to make its spaces multi-functional and comfortable to reside in. The soil taken from digging the ground for the semi-basement store, and some existing waste laterite soil from the site, has been used to raise the rammed earth walls. However, gravel less than 8mm in size can only be used for rammed earth construction. As a result, the rest of the bigger chunks get discarded or wasted. To avoid this wastage, the bigger chunks were used for the store room walls in the form of Shuttered Debris Walls [a patented technique learned from Ar.Vinu Daniel, Wallmakers].

The main façade of the building showcases both dry and wet mud construction techniques. This wall also acts as an interesting backdrop for various performances indoors. The wall flaunts different textures that come from the same soil and hence celebrates the diversity that mud construction has to offer. In addition to it, a purposeful insertion of bamboo pieces into the wall, aids in ventilation and creates a visual impact on the otherwise monochromatic wall.

The windows, made of treated bamboo pieces and scrap wood, also contribute to the aesthetics of the facade. So, the walls hold their own identity, breathe freely, and stand for what “Shwasam” implies. One side of the hall has a short 1m wall to allow visual connection with the surroundings. The openness of the structure and high ceiling, which has clerestory windows all around, is designed to allow light and breeze into the space and to pull the hot air out, thus making the indoor temperature at least 4 degrees cooler than the ambient temperature.

Floor - being one of the most important elements, is supposed to cater to the needs of the space. The hall showcases a mix of black and grey, leather finished Kota stone, while the sit-out has an attractive zig-zag pattern of terrazzo work with pockets of rammed earth in between.

Reduce Reuse Recycle - The main formula to make a sustainable and eco-friendly abode. In this project, waste has been Reduced by using the debris into shuttered debris walls. Old doors and old mangalore roof tiles have been Reused. Waste wood and old style glass and Vala(window grills) have been Recycled and used for the seatings, doors and windows.

Project gallery

Project location

Address:Aliparambu, India