Ranikhet, Uttarakhand · 2022 · Hospitality
The design is entirely orchestrated by the natural terrain. Inspired by the traditional 'Bakhuli' linear settlement pattern of the Himalayas, the project disperses its programme across the sloping site as a collection of architecturally distinct structures, prefabricated A-frames, octagonal thatched pavilions, transformed geometric cubes, and a full-glass dining pavilion each shaped by its immediate ground conditions rather than a singular formal language. The material strategy is deliberately regional and low-impact. Local stone anchors the south-facing facades for thermal mass, while full-length transparent glass opens the north facades entirely to the Himalayan panorama. Traditional thatched roofing on bamboo frames crowns the pavilion units, reinforcing craft and climate response simultaneously. Rooted in Laurie Baker's construction philosophy, the project consciously avoids cement and RCC on soft strata, reducing seismic risk, lowering the carbon footprint, and allowing the natural slopes to remain intact for rainwater harvesting.