Asmalay
Year
2023
Location
Ajay Gharat
Project
Farmhouse
Asmalay is a biophilic house in Alibag shaped around five existing mango trees, where curved brick walls, natural materials and passive design bring the landscape into everyday life.
Context
Set within a dense grove in Alibag, the site was defined by five mature mango trees whose canopies occupied much of the buildable area. Rather than clear the ground to accommodate a conventional house, the project began by asking how the existing trees could remain central to daily life. Their position, shade and relationship to prevailing winds became parameters for the plan, openings and roof form. The brief therefore evolved into a compact 2,000 sq ft home that could feel open and connected to the landscape while relying on natural light, ventilation and the existing canopy to create a comfortable internal environment.
Response
The plan flows between the five mango trees through a series of continuous curved spaces, reducing hard corners and allowing one room to transition naturally into another. A curved brick jali marks the arrival, while arched openings respond to orientation, views and the position of the trees. The north-facing ferrocement roof bends around their canopies, allowing them to shade the house while daylight and prevailing winds move through the interiors. Brick, stone, ferrocement and recycled glass form the principal material palette; rat-trap bond brickwork reduces material use and improves insulation. Built-in ferrocement furniture, corbelled brickwork and a recycled bottle wall extend the same language into the interiors. The fluid geometry was developed through custom details, prototypes and close on-site work with local masons rather than specialist construction teams.
Ajay Gharat
Owner
