Nature inside and out

By Editorial Staff - 6 September 2023

“Nature is the most beautiful design there is”: the manifesto of Earthitects crowns the environment as the greatest source of inspiration for their projects. The movement promoted by the architects, called Reverse Urbanization, aims at design that seeks to bring nature inside residences, fostering a connection with not only one’s inner harmony but also one’s relationship with everything around us.

An example of this building theory is Stone Lodges, a residential complex composed of 13 luxury villas designed by Earthitects in a forested hillside in the district of Wayanad, in Kerala, in the south of India. Hidden in the tropical forest, the residences take inspiration from the surrounding nature and local architectural traditions, sharing the same concept and style. One of these is Estate Plavu, designed according to the principles of biophilia, seeking harmony with nature in every aspect of the design, from the volumetric composition to the distribution of spaces, to the selection of materials and furnishings.

Complesso residenziale Stone Lodges - courtesy Earthitects Le finiture interne sono rustiche e richiamano elementi naturali: la pietra riveste ampie porzioni di pareti e le travi della copertura sono costituite da tronchi d’albero.

Spread over a plot of approximately 4,000 sq. m, the design takes advantage of the natural decline of the site, distributing the residence along the slope on different levels: two lodges destined for residential use on the top portion and a narrow infinity pool lower down, overlooking the thick vegetation and surrounded by lily ponds. The 6-m distance between the two lodges was purposely designed to give each home an unobstructed view of its surroundings. Suspended walkways connect the two buildings, giving the visitor a deeply immersive experience that is particularly atmospheric in the evening, thanks to the lighting integrated into the architecture. Additionally, there are bathrooms outside the homes, where one can enjoy outdoor showers completely immersed in the tropical forest and surrounded by lush vegetation and large rocky boulders that make this space similar to a sanctuary.

The distribution of the rooms was conceived as a choreography: each one overlooks the surrounding forest and embraces nature, integrating with it. The large windows, the presence of inner courtyards which pierce the architecture and make space for nature, the orientation of the rooms and the distribution of the openings are all devices with which the architects rendered the outdoors the protagonist of the design.

The materials used complete the fusion between indoors and outdoors, and together with the colors, they evoke the tropical forest: the black granite of the masonry, the rough gray stone floors, the roofing with exposed beams obtained from tree trunks, the rough cobblestone walkways, and the extensive use of wood for the furnishings compose a palette of elements and hues that blend with the vegetation.

Every piece of furniture has been designed to promote biophilia and sustainability: the environments are ubiquitously filled with artisanal woodworking objects and details that make up the collection of Handcrafted Collectibles, custom-designed for the all the residences of the complex.

To make a stay at Stone Lodges a 360-degree sensory experience, the estate property has been enhanced with 64 native bird species, which offer a spectacle for the eye and especially for the ear, enlivening the surrounding forest with lively chirping.

Hidden in the tropical forest, the residences take inspiration from the surrounding nature and local architectural traditions, sharing the same concept and style.

Stone Lodges Residential Complex - courtesy of Earthitects | The interior finishes are rustic and recall natural elements: stone covers large portions of the walls and the roof beams are made of tree trunks.

Stone Lodges Residential Complex - courtesy of Earthitects

Stone Lodges Residential Complex - courtesy of Earthitects | The rooms end in large terraces immersed in green, in a fluid continuity between outdoors and indoors.

Stone Lodges Residential Complex - courtesy of Earthitects | The same wood used in construction was utilized to realize frames for works of art with an ethnic flavor.

Stone Lodges Residential Complex - courtesy of Earthitects | The extensive use of wood in the finishes gives warmth to the environment, while at the same time offering climatic benefit thanks to its insulating properties.

Stone Lodges Residential Complex - courtesy of Earthitects | Earthitects created the Handcrafted Collectibles collection, a family of furniture in natural and sustainable materials, for the project.

Stone Lodges Residential Complex - courtesy of Earthitects | The massive walls are realized in natural stone: thanks to their thermal inertia, the spaces are insulated and provide cooling during the summer months and heating during the winter ones.

Stone Lodges Residential Complex - courtesy of Earthitects | The pool, long and narrow, extends towards the vegetation, with two small ponds with water lilies at its sides.

Location: Wayanad, Kerala, India
Client: Private
Completion: 2022
Gross Floor Area Estate Plavu: 680 m²
Architect and Interior Designer: Earthitects
Main Contractor: Sooryodhaya Associates

All photos courtesy of Earthitects

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