The clients own a small stone and mud cottage on the ground floor, nestled in the middle of tea gardens of Bir, Kangra. They wanted to refurbish it and transform it into a comfortable, livable space.

We saw this project as an opportunity to enhance an already picturesque setting—a charming, almost ethereal cottage surrounded by tea gardens.

Our vision was to create a homestay composed of three elements: the original stone and mud structure, a newly built rammed earth extension, and a glass vestibule/foyer that seamlessly connects the old with the new.

The existing cottage houses a bedroom, a covered verandah, and a living room, with a newly added bathroom on the east side. The living area expands with a glass vestibule, introducing ample natural light—something the cottage previously lacked—while also serving as the main entrance to the homestay.
The south wall of the living room features a fireplace, flanked by entrances to two additional rooms. This new extension, going to be constructed from stone and rammed earth, includes two bedrooms with attached bathrooms and an eight-foot-wide covered verandah. This outdoor space provides guests with a serene spot to relax and take in the beauty of the surrounding tea gardens. The bedrooms also have a 6 feet long bay window, that adds in the vernacular himachali element to an otherwise earthy but modern aesthetic of the room.

Overall, our aim is to preserve the old, integrate the new, and reinterpret vernacular elements through a modern aesthetic in this project.

Type
Refurbishment + Extension

Location
Himachal Pradesh