Maativan
Year
2022
Location
Wada, Maharashtra
Project
Farmhouse
Maativan is an earth-built farmhouse in Wada, conceived within a forested landscape using soil, stone, bamboo and other materials drawn largely from the site itself.
Context
Maativan sits on a permaculture-inspired farm along the edge of Wada’s reserved forest landscape, where existing trees, dense vegetation and the material resources of the land formed the starting point for the house. The intention was not simply to place a building within the forest, but to retain the sensation of living under its canopy. Existing trees were therefore absorbed into courtyards and circulation spaces, while the planning responded to shade, natural light and prevailing winds. The brief called for a four-bedroom retreat that could remain closely connected to the landscape while reducing its dependence on energy-intensive materials and mechanical conditioning.
Response
The house is organised as a sequence of curved walls, courtyards and interconnected living spaces that weave around the existing trees. Thick cob walls are made using soil from the site, while locally available basalt forms random-rubble foundations and exposed stone walls. Bamboo and site-sourced timber structure the roofs, with lime plaster, Kota stone, IPS flooring and recycled glass, metal and terracotta extending the low-embodied-energy material palette. South-facing mud walls reduce heat gain, north-sloping roofs limit direct solar exposure, and carefully positioned openings encourage cross ventilation. Greywater is directed back into the landscape, kitchen waste is composted for the farm and much of the energy demand is met through solar power—allowing the environmental strategy to extend beyond the building itself.
