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Architecture

2019

Photographer : Earthitects

Stone Lodges - Private Residences are spread across a forested hillside. Built on sloping land on the side of a mountain, they are inspired by the grammar of Mountain Lodges and the native design aesthetic.

With sheer simplicity and understated elegance, each villa intertwines harmoniously with the mountain on three distinct levels and blends seamlessly into the natural landscape. Staying true to our philosophy, the materials used are natural, with wooden flooring, random-rubble walls, cobblestone pathways, and log rafters.

Showcasing a joyous interplay of stone and wood, the villas are hidden amongst dense foliage and designed with unique elements, keeping sustainability and innovation in mind. Every bit is finely nuanced bespeaking a luxurious yet environmentally responsible aesthetic - A Collectible that ages graciously!

We believe that the “future of living” is our visionary philosophy of “Reverse Urbanization” as we are passionate about pioneering, creating and constantly innovating a positive change in the way people live.The advent of ultra high-speed Internet, the ability to now work from anywhere in the world, and the abundant availability of conveniences for everyday living has led us to pioneer this new philosophy in living, that we call ‘Reverse Urbanization’.

A post-pandemic gated community suitable for socially-distanced living - With the ever-growing cities and with internet connectivity making 'work from anywhere' possible many are considering making such oases of calm, their home. A home amidst nature is what we as humans were meant to live in, as people are burned out from their regular lives and require a sabbatical in tranquil locations. Focused on living in harmony with nature, we want to change the way people live by bringing a new dimension to luxury with the essence of the wilderness in every square foot.

[{"value":"Wayanad"},{"value":"Kerala"},{"value":"India"}]

Architects	:	Earthitects
Area	:	7320 sq. Ft
Year	:	2019
Website	:	https://earthitects.com/

Every single action taken during the journey of this project from its inception till today has set it apart from others - From the concept of ‘Reverse Urbanization to the detail of the smallest door knob. This thoughtfully designed community allows one experience the innate beauty of nature with every modern convenience at one’s beck and call.

The design of Stone Lodges is inspired by the grammar of Mountain Lodges and the native design aesthetic. The villas are hidden amongst dense foliage and designed with unique elements, keeping sustainability and innovation in mind. Every bit is finely nuanced bespeaking a luxurious yet environmentally responsible aesthetic - A Collectible that ages graciously!

The concept of Second Living is rooted in man’s need for balance – between the urban and the rural, between work and life. With the changes in lifestyle brought about by today’s work culture, this need for balance is manifesting itself in a longing for man to reconnect with nature. We wanted to provide this ‘Second Life’ for our owners by the establishment of a Second Home at the lap of nature - A place to nurture hobbies like Photography, Organic Farming, Gardening, Birding and Trekking.

We re-imagined the experience of everyday living by allying with Mother Earth in designing and creating dwellings that are in harmony with oneself and the natural environment, dwellings that facilitate ‘Natural Life’. Envisioned to intertwine with the natural slope of the mountains, the villas are designed "around nature, rather than on it". Our journey has culminated in every space envisioned and crafted, thus achieving the truest form of spaces and blending seamlessly with the greatest design to exist - Nature.

When a tree or boulder comes in the way of the building, the design is modified to go around the existing tree or boulder and accommodate it to be a part of our natural design. Thus the existing flora and natural features on the site play their part in enhancing this carefully designed living experience.

Staying true to our philosophy and keeping up with our eco-friendly ethos, the materials used in the villas are natural, with wooden flooring, random-rubble walls, cobblestone pathways, and log rafters, showcasing a joyous interplay of stone and wood. The wood used in crafting the space portrays its authenticity with ‘Live Edges’ accentuating the natural character of wood. The floors, joinery, switchboards, skirting and furniture are handcrafted with live edge teak wood that adorns the spaces with warmth and grain. Rough, uncut and unpolished stone each with a character of its own, forms the thick random rubble walls of the lodges. Other natural materials portrayed in Stone Lodges are the clay roof tiles, eucalyptus poles in the ceiling, lapotra granite for counters and stone deck floors.

Our skilled craftsmen, our team of passionate Carpenters, create and build our hand-crafted furniture and fixtures in-house. Each item at the villa is made at the construction site including the switch boards, joinery, kitchen counters, shower tray and cabinetry. All of this ensures that our items are unique to Earthitects and every piece conveys a unique story. The wood is intentionally left unfinished to really accentuate the live edge, and can thus be expected to age gracefully over time.

While most of the natural materials are sourced from the site itself, other materials are sourced locally to promote the nativity of Wayanad. And, to ensure no resource goes to waste, some boulders are cut to form random-rubble walls, while leftover teakwood goes into the making of fixtures and fittings.

Private Residences re-imagined to experience the abounding fullness and joy of Natural Life.

Natural Life is about re-establishing the revealing experience of connecting with both oneself and the natural environment - a relationship that has been severed by our modern, urban-centric lifestyles and changes in the way of life brought about by today’s work culture.

There is now, more than ever, a need for balance and a longing for man to reconnect with nature.A longing fulfilled by the establishment of a Second Home that is ‘One with Nature’.

The advent of ultra high-speed Internet, the ability to now work from anywhere in the world, and the abundant availability of conveniences for everyday living has led us to pioneer a new philosophy in living, that we call ‘Reverse Urbanization’.

We re-imagined the experience of everyday living by allying with Mother Earth in designing and creating dwellings that are in harmony with oneself and the natural environment, dwellings that facilitate ‘Natural Life’. Our journey has culminated in every space envisioned and crafted, thus achieving the truest form of spaces and blending seamlessly with the greatest design to exist - Nature.

Stone Lodges is spread across 13 acres of lush vegetation and grand contours. Our Landscape design concepts implemented with sustainable measures encourage the protection of the native species of flora and fauna. With an uncompromising motive to maintain the ecological balance, we have created an environment where man and nature coexist with each other.

To do our bit towards environmental sustainability, the entire site has been afforested with over 8000 endemic species of trees making it a forested hillside today. By our eco-friendly landscape measures, Stone Lodges is now home to a variety of native birds, butterflies and other creatures. The integration of prolific fruit trees and birdbaths - the lily ponds, invite the birds to coexist, luxuriating the birding experience.

With sustainability as the core idea, up-cycled wood from construction is used for the craftsmanship of the fittings and furnishings while maintaining the organic shape of wood. The thoughtfully designed switch boards, mirror frames, knobs, cloth hangers and skirting are hand-crafted from remaining pieces of teak wood. Intentionally left unfinished to accentuate the live edge, the wood used in the crafting of the fixtures ages gracefully over time.

The biggest challenge was to retain the natural character of the topography and features of the site with no spatial re-tailoring. When a tree or boulder came in the way of the building, the plan was modified to go around the existing tree or rock and accommodate it to be a part of our natural design ‘ensuring that no stone is turned’. The villas were designed "around nature, rather than on it", such that the existing flora and natural features such as boulders, play their part in enhancing this carefully designed living experience. And even those boulders and trees that we couldn’t avoid doing away with were integrated with the interior design of each villa.

The challenge of designing a dwelling on a natural slope was the difference in the contour levels and how we would turn this into our biggest opportunity. We overcame this challenge by designing the villa on three distinct levels. The first and second levels house the spacious residence. Nestled amongst the luxuriance of the wilderness, the third level comprises the Exterior Deck with an infinity pool surrounded by lily ponds. Due to the levels, each deck has an endless, unobstructed view of the forest.

The challenge of building on a natural slope was taken as an advantage by achieving the best views of the forest and the surrounding mountains from every space in the home. We believe that “The larger the Challenge, the greater the Opportunity”. The challenge we faced, gave us an opportunity to design dwellings with spectacular tree-top views from every space.

The lighting design is envisioned in such a way that it follows the architecture of the space. The thoughtfully designed warm lighting is concealed such that the source of light is not visible to the eye. The interior trail is led by the soft non-glaring warmth of the lights emanating from a concealed source. Upward Lighting illuminating from the Eucalyptus poles on the ceiling, creating an arcadian setting. Automated lights operated by motion sensors provide a great user experience.

With endless views of the forest, the exterior deck is highlighted by stone flooring finished with black oxide. The railing made out of Eucalyptus poles creates the perfect viewing deck at the comfort of one’s own home.

Surrounded by a tranquil lily pond adjoining the infinity pool, the outdoor dining space is designed such that one can dine under the soft glow of the twilight with an unobstructed view of the wilderness. Crafted from the finest teak, the dining chairs elevate the beauty of wood in its original form.

A space to ponder, surrounded by peace and serenity/Unwind and Relax under a Gazebo

Set amidst the lily pond and the infinity pool, the Gazebo at Stone Lodges is crafted entirely out of natural materials. A thoughtfully designed roof made of unfinished log rafters and clay tiles is supported by four sturdy wooden poles thus creating the perfect viewing deck from the third level of the villa.

Underneath the cozy ‘Gazebo’ is a Daybed to relax and unwind whilst listening to the songs of nature. With an enchanting view of the woodlands, one can enjoy the peace and serenity of nature or catch up on work even on a rainy day.

Indulge in a bathing experience amidst the greatest design to have ever existed - Nature.

Our latest creation, among our signature outdoor baths, is envisioned to reveal the freedom of taking a shower beneath the open sky. This indulging tropical shower helps one reconnect with nature with the luxury of staying indoors.

Set amidst a courtyard, the organic shower tray with stepping stones is surrounded by lush foliage and natural boulders.

The interplay of light and shadow is brought about by the Eucalyptus poles on the ceiling, with their natural oils and distinct texture. Made out of brass, the bathroom fixtures add an antique charm to the rustic stone wall.

Mounted on the counter, is a black granite wash basin elegantly chiseled from a natural rock. The wooden cabinetry below the counter is finished with hand-crafted wooden knobs that portray our close attention to detail.

A Natural Powder Room in tune with Nature.

Reimagined as an expansive Powder Room, this spacious Bath is designed to capture the true essence of nature.

Accentuating the space is the branch of a tree that contrasts the clean cut mirror, thus amplifying the outdoor effect. The concealed lighting design is envisioned in such a way that light follows the architecture.

An abundance of natural light through the Skylight falls on the stone wall highlighting the crude textures of natural stone. The wardrobes are characterized by mirrors that face each other creating an illusion.

‘Natural Life’ is about re-establishing the experience of connecting with both oneself and the natural environment. With the whiff of nature in every breath, Stone Lodges facilitates the revealing experience of ‘Natural Life’.

To do our bit towards environmental sustainability, the entire site has been afforested with over 8000 endemic species of trees making it a forested hillside today. With our eco-friendly landscape measures, Stone Lodges is now home to a variety of native birds, butterflies and other creatures.

Master of Disguise: The Southern Flying Lizard (Draco dussumieri) is the only species out of a total of 40 grouped in the genus “Draco” that is found in the Western Ghats. They have a very unique body part known as the ‘dewlap’, a bright yellow-green extension from under the chin that moves up-and-down which is a code of communication between individuals. Playing an important role in the food chain, its population is fast dwindling, and hence measures have been taken for its conservation through our eco-friendly landscape design.

A Dining Experience that accentuates the serenade of the Greatest Design to Exist - Nature.

Our design objective from the very inception of the idea was to afford one a tranquil dining experience that is in harmony with its natural surroundings, creating a private sanctuary to unwind.

Far removed, and lost in the wilderness, the ‘Harmony’ deck is perched on stilts and designed to float amidst the verdure of the forest. The sturdy stone pedestals and wooden pole railing contribute to our eco-friendly and natural design aesthetic.

Encompassed by the serenading sounds of nature, the Harmony deck is the perfect place to dine under the twilight and the soft light of the candles.

Living Deck

The Cocoon

We take pride in our unique craftsmanship and detailing in design. Our skilled craftsmen - Our team of passionate Carpenters, pay close attention to detail, always looking forward to a challenge.

The ‘Earthitects’ signature design style finds its infinite expression in this unique piece of craftsmanship that portrays understated elegance. Each piece with its distinct personality elevates the beauty of teak wood in its original form combined with cane, weaved by local artisans.

Carved with nature-inspired motifs, the apron of the chair compliments the handpicked natural upholstery which is carefully chosen to tread lightly on the environment. The supports are characterized by tapered ends with subtle detailing.