The infrastructure is kept invisible to allow for a great natural hill experience.  Eighteen villa typologies are envisaged to create a diverse customer base with different interests, family size, and varied experiences. Ecology is the most important aspect in the development of this hill enclave. A biophilic approach to the built form, fosters the inside and outside connection as a congruous eco-system between built and natural habitats.  

It was important for all eighteen villa types to capture the serene views of the hills. The idea of each unit being independent but coming together as a contiguous built environment was a key design emphasis. A common language and aesthetic was carried through the project to bring in this unison and feeling of a ‘community’. The lower part of the buildings/ units are rendered as stone cladded base as though it has grown out from the hill, the mid-section as plastered representing the soft soil cover of the region and the top section is cladded with  wooden planks which are evident in the pine trees of the forest around.

Capturing the views was made possible by sloping the roofs opening towards the valley together with the sky. Sloping roofs are typical of the house form of the Himachal region, and have been placed lightly by disconnecting them from the solid base and by the introducing of glass to free the roof from the building.

Program and Organization

Selected Typologies exemplifying variable conditions

2B 3E Hybrid unit:  This typology is accessed from the hill. It is a combination of two 2 bedroom duplex units and one 3 bedroom duplex unit on the upper level stacked above both the 2 bedroom units. The 2 bedroom units are placed adjacent to each other with a shared common wall. The living, dining, and kitchen spaces are placed below the main bedroom spaces to the rear side opposite the road entrance, to capture the views of the valley. The balconies in the units, allow for the spaces to flow towards the outside allowing for human engagement with nature. 

3C Independent villa: This typology of the large 3 bedroom unit has its access from the hill side and has beautiful views on the valley side. The unit is accessed at the mid-level where the living dining and kitchen are located. The guest bedroom and the entertainment space is situated at the lower floor whereas the master bedroom overlooking the valley view along with the children’s bed room adjacent to it are on the upper most floor.

The Structure

4B Staggered stack units: In this typology the four, 4 bedroom units are staggered in section to adapt to the hill terrain. Two units are mirrored and placed on the lower section of the hill access unit and other two mirrored units placed above these units by pulling them towards the hill side to meet with road and achieve minimum cut-fill on site. This creates a staggered condition in section and develops decks and terraces through the entire built-form. The lower units have the Living, dining, kitchen and guest bedroom above the bedroom spaces. However, the upper units have the main bed space above the Living, dining, kitchen and guest bed space.

5C Villa 5: This independent villa is a valley access unit. Its lower level forms an entry foyer with a covered car parking. The elevator takes us to the mid-level which has the Living area, dining area, kitchen, a guest bedroom and the caretaker’s room. A corner wrap-around balcony with large French windows cantilevered allow for the connection with the valley view. The large double height space creates a hill lodge like atmosphere in the living dining space. The levels above and below have two bedrooms each. This sectional arrangement keeps the living dining equidistant from the lower and upper floor. And the top most level has the entertainment space with the pool deck perched over the valley.

Gallery