Solitude by Out Of The Box

A stilted wooden entry deck welcomes the user into the double-height living space. The staircase in the center of the volume divides the living room from the study and the kitchen. The study placed along the front facade receives ample light for one to work through the day while peeking into the landscape. The kitchen is provided with a skylight, giving direct views of the tree canopies. A dresser with ample storage leads to the bathroom. The bathroom also has a skylight, that brings in ample light, along with a landscape court placed along the slope of the roof providing an immersive bathing experience. The wooden staircase leads to the quaint bedroom deck with a cantilevered wooden balcony, opening into the views of the sunrise and the sunset on either side through the tall gables.

The material palette for the cottage was chosen with an eco-sensitive approach, utilising local stone, lime, terracotta, and mud from the site. These materials are resilient to the climate of the area. The structural members of the cottage consist of sized purlins and rafters made from red cedar wood, which is a locally sourced, indigenous hardwood. Except for the plinth beam at the base, no metal was used in the framing of the structure. The structure was entirely built on-site using only traditional carpentry techniques and joineries, without the use of heavy machinery. Lime plaster and oxide plaster were used for the interior finishes, along with natural regional oils for wood polish.