Mud House in Gunehar

Refurbishment project for Mr. Dipin Bhalla

Our client, Dipin Bhalla, leased an old mud house in Gunehar. The original family had moved out and built a “pakka” house, leaving this structure unused.
Dipin wanted to stay as true to the original plan and materials as possible while working within a tight budget. His vision was to transform the house into a homestay, his residence, and a space for kombucha production.

The existing structure had no attached bathrooms, suffered from water seepage on the north-facing walls, and had a small section that had deteriorated over time.

As a studio, we believe that humble mud and stone structures like these should be preserved and adapted for contemporary use. Without such efforts, they risk being forgotten as relics or demolished altogether.

For this refurbishment, we designed attached bathrooms for the bedrooms and repurposed a former cow shed into a bedroom with a mezzanine level, which serves as a compact studio for the client. The beautifully finished mud walls—crafted by the women of the house-owning family—along with the striking bright blue doors, give this mud house a distinct charm. It stands out amidst the growing number of pakka houses in the village, a testament to the beauty and sustainability of traditional architecture.