Cardamom Hills is an environmentally sensitive, sustainable staycation home nestled in the pristine valley of the Western Ghats. The site is located near Anayirankal Dam in Munnar, surrounded by a lush cardamom plantation. The built spaces occupy a small area, leaving ninety percent of the land vacant for people to enjoy the breathtaking views of the cardamom hills. The building follows the traditional sloping roof typology of Munnar with random rubble walls. The interiors are kept minimal, featuring wooden details and accent colors that bring life to the spaces. The views are beautifully framed with carefully planned window openings at strategic locations. The building's positioning utilizes the natural contours to create multiple level entries, leading to a cascade of balconies where guests can connect with the surrounding nature.
The chiseled house was one of our earliest renovation projects. The original house was constructed 13 years back and had used heavy ornamentation in its architectural expression. The layout had disjointed functions and lacked ventilation. We redesigned the house with a minimal architectural vocabulary based on the functional requirements. The skewed roof form is the outcome of a design process based on functional requirements and structural integrity. Layers of bamboo and other tropical planting, at different strategic points bring about passive cooling, and adds greenery to the house.
